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Exercise Balls Get Education Rolling
Students perform better in classrooms that have replaced traditional chairs with balls and ball chairs (which have wheels, feet and backs). The devices sharpen students' attention and improve posture, teachers say.11/16/2009
Support Grows for Anti-Bullying Legislation
Massachusetts legislators are set to act on a series of bills aimed at preventing bullying in schools. The proposals include a measure to mandate school reporting of all bullying incidents to the state. 11/15/2009
Credit Recovery Program Helping Students Make The Grade
A pilot program at a Connecticut high school is providing a new way for students to catch up on credits they struggled to earn in a traditional classroom setting, helping many to graduate on time. 11/15/2009
This D-O-G Makes Reading Easy for Students
At The Prentice School for students with learning disabilities in California, teachers are having students read to therapy animals through a program designed to help improve students' literacy skills. 11/13/2009
Teacher Has a Gift for Making Math Add Up
Sharon Dravvorn, a Virginia high-school teacher, says her students' math scores have improved since she started using a teaching method that blends sound effects and classical music. 11/12/2009
Vodcasting: The Reverse of Homework?
In a reverse of traditional practices, Colorado chemistry teachers create video recordings of lectures for students to watch at home. The next day, students practice the concepts in the classroom. 11/12/2009
Grants Launch Algebra by iPod
The Georgia Department of Education this month will hand out grants for schools to pioneer the use of "handheld computing" to see if it engages students better than traditional book-and-paper methods. 11/12/2009
Reading Along With Ludacris, Nas
Created by a hip-hop artist to help struggling readers, H.E.L.P. -- Hip-Hop Educational Literacy Program -- features workbooks for relating hip-hop lyrics to school curriculum to improve student reading. 11/11/2009
Judge Rules Autism Helper Dog Allowed in Class
A judge ruled that an Illinois first-grader can keep his autism helper dog in school. The judge sided with the child's family, who said the Lab is a service animal. 11/11/2009
Teaching Girls to Tinker
Girls surpass boys on many standardized measurements of math and science, but far fewer girls choose careers in those disciplines. Author Lisa Damour says schools need to teach girls to "tinker." 11/09/2009
States Slow Standards Work Among Common Core Push
As they wait to see how the latest push for common national standards plays out, some states are putting off or slowing the revision of their own academic standards to avoid wasted effort and spending. 11/06/2009
Web Connects K-12 Students With Scientists
At the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, two epidemiology experts recently hosted a live online webinar about the H1N1 virus for middle- and high-school students nationwide.11/09/2009
High Schools Start Kids Early Preparing for State Exam
A growing number of New Jersey high schools are providing test-preparation courses during elective and study periods for struggling students at risk of failing a state graduation exam. 11/09/2009
School Districts Retooling How They Evaluate Teachers
Teachers in Evanston-Skokie (Illinois) used to be judged on what they did in the classroom. Now their evaluations -- and their pay -- will also depend on what their students do. 11/09/2009
Finding Fluency in Language Lessons
Students in the dual-language program at Maryland's Kemp Mill Elementary School move between two rooms. In one classroom, English is spoken; in the other, students learn in Spanish. 11/09/2009
Congress Considers Expanding "Troops to Teachers" Program
A proposed bill in Congress would expand the Troops to Teachers program, which provides incentives for U.S. service members to become teachers, to 98 percent of U.S. schools. 11/07/2009
Students Discover Online Collaboration
More educators in New Jersey are utilizing Web 2.0 technology that allows shared access to content and more collaborative learning, saying wiki pages, blogs, and online chats prepare students for the real world. 11/07/2009
More Oregon Students Are "Getting" Math
Oregon educators say more middle-school students understand math concepts because they've reduced the number of topics covered, spending more time on hands-on lessons with real-life examples. 11/07/2009
Study Shows How Discrimination Creeps Into Grading Practices
A study by Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government uses an innovative method to get an intricate picture of how cultural discrimination plays into the grading decisions teachers make. 11/05/2009
School Explores Teaching the Bible
Teaching of the Bible in high school is a trend that's on the rise. More than two dozen public schools in Alabama are already offering Bible related courses and more schools are exploring the idea. 11/05/2009
University researchers to study video games' effect on health
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation announced $1.85 million in funding for projects involving the use of video games to help people change behavior, manage chronic illness and improve communication. 11/05/2009
Teen Speaks Out for Autism
A California high-school freshman has created a program, called Autism Ambassadors, that offers guidelines to help students understand and mentor their peers who have autism. 11/05/2009
Special Needs Students Study Business
A program in which students with special needs at a New Jersey middle school craft, market, package and sell their own brand of jewelry has received state recognition for innovation in education. 11/05/2009
Education By Design
Educators in some Washington state schools are using robotics projects as a hands-on way for students to learn math and science as well as improve teamwork, innovation and problem-solving skills. 11/01/2009
Chicago School Breakfasts Feature Doughnuts, Sugary Cereals
This year, Chicago schools are offering free breakfasts to nearly every student, but nutrition experts warn that the foods city schools provide set kids up for unhealthy habits and other problems. 11/05/2009
Skype Helps Students Communicate With Deaf
Some Florida students learning sign language are using Skype technology to communicate -- through video and blog-style text messaging -- with students at another school who have hearing impairments. 11/01/2009
Are Schools Preparing Students for 21st Century Learning?
More than half of U.S. school principals say they're "doing a good job" preparing students for the 21st century; only a third of parents of middle school and high school students agree. 11/02/2009
Charter Hopes to Start Arabic Immersion Program
Officials at a California charter school focused on serving immigrants from the Middle East and South Asia are proposing a K-12 dual-language Arabic immersion program -- the first of its kind in the U.S.11/03/2009
Students Unimpressed with Faculty Use of Ed Tech
Only 38 percent of college students think their instructors fully integrate technology into their classes, while 74 percent of professors indicate they incorporate technology into nearly every class.11/03/2009
A Fun Physical Education and Video Activity
The International Olympic Committee has launched The Best of Us Challenge, a YouTube site designed to give anyone a chance to compete with real Olympians in unique athletic contests. 11/02/2009
Policies Target Teacher-Student Cyber Talk
A new law requires all Louisiana districts to document every electronic interaction between teachers and students through a nonschool-issued device, such as a personal cellphone or e-mail. 11/02/2009
More Schools Opening Door to Technology
About 6,000 U.S. schools have implemented one-to-one technology programs, according to Thomas Greaves, who conducts a biennial study of technology in education called America's Digital Schools. 11/03/2009
Mining the Web for Public Data on Private Schools
A DOE database is proving to be a comprehensive resource for families interested in private schools. Survey results provide school information that may not be otherwise available. 11/02/2009
More Districts Use Income, Not Race, as Basis for Busing
Struggling to improve schools that have large populations of poor and minority students, a growing group of school districts are integrating schools by income, not race. 11/01/2009
Educational Video Games Mix Cool With Purpose
After years of watching technology transform the way children play, socialize, and learn, a range of academics, foundations and now start-ups are working on games that will put the genre to good use. 11/01/2009
OCTOBER 2009
Federal Researchers Find Lower Standards in Schools
A new federal study shows that nearly a third of the states lowered their academic proficiency standards in recent years, a step that helps schools stay ahead of sanctions under the No Child Left Behind law. 10/29/2009
Welcome to My World
One Oregon school district hosts an event where students don blindfolds or use wheelchairs to help them develop empathy for what their fellow students with disabilities experience day to day. 10/29/2009
OMG! Teachers Say Texting Can Be Good for Teens
Some teachers and researchers say texting does not interfere with students' ability to use language properly and may, in fact, help students better express themselves through informal writing. 10/27/2009
Yoga an Effective Therapy for Special Needs Children
Relaxation exercises help children with disabilities stay calm and focused, and yoga poses help improve strength, balance and confidence, says the owner of a Spokane, Washington, yoga studio. 10/26/2009
Teacher Awarded $210,000
A retired city schoolteacher who claimed she was forced to retire after blowing the whistle on testing improprieties at the school where she worked has been awarded $293,000 by a Baltimore jury. 10/27/2009
School Nurses Don't Know How to Isolate Sick Kids
There's no place to isolate sick kids if swine flu hits hard at the city's most overcrowded schools, school nurses in New York City warn. Dozens of schools are functioning at more than 150 percent of capacity.10/26/2009
Florida District Considers Singapore Math
Florida's Hillsborough County school district is considering supplementing its mathematics instruction with the Singapore Math curriculum, which focuses on critical-thinking skills along with visual and kinetic learning.10/25/2009
Lesson Blends Technology and Literature
At one North Carolina middle school, language arts students are using an iPod Touch game to help them develop different perspectives as they create characters and write fiction. 10/24/2009
Seniority-Based Teacher Assignments Over in RI
Rhode Island school schools must stop assigning teachers based on seniority. Commissioner Deborah Gist says assignments must be based on merit and student needs, not teacher preference. 10/00/2009
Nashville Schools Study Tying Pay to Scores
The mayor and school director are studying the possibility of tying teacher pay to the state's sophisticated data system, which can measure how well a teacher performed with a group of students. 10/23/2009
School Teaches Kids to Eat, Play and Live Smart
After burning calories at their weekly aerobics session, students learned their school is beefing up its Wellness Wednesday program when their principal announced that the school received two new grants. 10/23/2009
School Brings in Old Shoes to Help Raise Funds
Tennis shoes, flip-flops, pumps and sandals, all colors and sizes… The school is collecting shoes for Global Dove, an organization that collects shoes and gives them to communities in need. 10/23/2009
New Math Guidelines Focus on Critical Thinking, Reasoning
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics released new teaching guidelines this month, saying it hopes reintroducing critical thinking will lead more students to math-related careers.10/19/2009
Study Finds Growing Work for School Counselors
Nearly half of public schools have raised caseloads of high school counselors this year, with the average increase exceeding 53 students, according to the NACAC. 10/20/2009
In Hawaii, School's Out for Recession
Hawaii has created the nation's shortest school year under a new union contract that closes schools on most Fridays for the remainder of the academic calendar for budget-cutting reasons. 10/20/2009
Schools Step Up Web Safety Instruction
As part of a new federal mandate to teach Internet safety, schools are reaching out to Internet safety groups to establish programs to educate both teachers and students about secure and proper online behavior. 10/13/2009
Schools Taking Part in Campaign to Give Swine-Flu Vaccine
Thousands of U.S. schools are mobilizing to ensure that students are vaccinated against swine flu in the coming weeks, a task complicated by parental fears and overlap with seasonal flu programs. 10/19/2009
Boy Put on Bus by Mistake, Then Wandered Area Alone
A 5-year-old boy was mistakenly put on a bus at his school and dropped off at an unfamiliar stop. School officials are reviewing their procedures to ensure this doesn't happen again. 10/13/2009
Is There a Scientific Way to Predict Who'll Be a Good Teacher?
How can a principal to know if an applicant for a teaching position is a future star or a dud? A study funded by the Gates Foundation -- to be carried out over the next two years -- might provide answers. 10/12/2009
Act Would Offer Teachers Some Tax Relief
Teachers purchasing classroom supplies stand to benefit from the Teacher Tax Relief Act, legislation recently introduced by Congressmen John Tanner (D-Tennessee) and Dave Reichert (R-Washington). 10/12/2009
Social Networking Sites Can Be Minefields for Teachers
Social networking sites can a dicey proposition for educators, who are often held to a higher standard to be role models for students. Like many technologies, the potential for problems is present, experts say. 10/12/2009
NM School Goes From Worst to Among Best in 3 Years
Under Principal George Bickert, math scores from 15 percent proficiency in 2006 to nearly 78 percent this year. Reading scores rose from 28 percent to 71 percent, according to state data. 10/12/2009
Elementary School Students Solve Mystery Using Science
Science class is a big mystery for students at one school who have been busy since August studying clues in their own whodunit caper that was masterminded by their science lab teacher. 10/09/2009
Education Secretary Stresses Need for Strong New Teachers
Arne Duncan appealed Friday for a new generation of extraordinary teachers, calling education the civil rights cause of our time. The need is especially acute for black male teachers, he said. 10/09/2009
Local Educators Study Promising Japanese Teaching Method
"Lesson study," a model of professional development for teachers developed in Japan, is a collaborative examination of the mechanics of teaching that has resulted in increased teacher -- and student - proficiency. 10/09/2009
Few Teachers Are Black Men
Despite minority student populations of about 44 percent, U.S. teachers are overwhelmingly white (87 percent) and female (77 percent). Only about 2 percent of U.S. teachers are African-American men. 10/09/2009
Program Spurs Interest in Science Careers
Montgomery County (Maryland) has hit on the formula for getting young people interested in science: Unleash them in a building full of robots, microscopes, and bacteria-filled flasks. 10/10/2009
It's a Fork, It's a Spoon, It's a ... Weapon?
A 6-year-old's suspension for bringing a Cub Scout tool to school has sparked a debate over whether schools' zero-tolerance policies have gone too far. 10/12/2009
Students Overcome Obstacles in One-Room School
The students at the Academic Achievement Center in Seffner, Florida, have attention-deficit disorder and/or learning disabilities, but that doesn't stop them from tackling advanced subjects. 10/09/2009
Event Promotes Benefits of Walking to School
On Wednesday, long lines of children came in "walking school buses" led by volunteers. This was done to celebrate International Walk to School Day, an effort to promote the virtues of walking to school. 10/08/2009
Charter School Students Walk for Water
Maryland middle-school students carried 5 liters of water for 2 miles to learn about the scarcity of water in some places in the world and what people go through to meet their basic needs. 10/08/2009
Labrador Retriever Acts as School's Super Dog
Missy, a 2-year-old Labrador retriever, helps students at an Ohio elementary school with academics, emotional needs, and life lessons, according to the school's counselor and Missy's caretaker. 10/07/2009
Boxer Plans Hearing on Toxic School Drinking Water
Sen. Barbara Boxer called for hearings to be held in Washington this year after an AP investigation revealed unsafe levels of lead, bacteria, and pesticides have surfaced in the water at thousands of schools. 10/07/2009
Isles Could Have Shortest School Year in Nation
Seventeen teacher furlough days forced by budget cuts will mean Hawaii's public school students will have the fewest instructional days (163) in the nation. North Dakota has the second fewest, 173. 10/07/2009
Elementary Teacher Puts Science Lessons to Music
Debra Cave's science lessons resemble American Idol more than a typical classroom. The lessons echo an increasingly popular teaching strategy, one that draws on the arts to enhance learning. 10/06/2009
Strong Communication Key to Online Learning
A new research brief looks at the challenges of online teaching; it examines how successful programs and teachers ensure effective communication. The brief reviews existing research and policies. 10/06/2009
Teacher Mixes Math, Music to Rave Reviews by Students
Memorizing multiplication tables is a cinch for Brooke Knight's students thanks to the songs she incorporates into her curriculum. She has been using her musical methods since she started teaching five years ago. 10/06/2009
What Schools Do, Don't Do About Bullying
At Vivian Elementary School, about 12 miles from the site of the shootings at Columbine High School, K-6 students spend about an hour a week talking about bullies and what to do when they see one. 10/05/2009
Mississippi Mandates Civil Rights Classes in Schools
In a groundbreaking reform -- believed to be the first in the nation -- Mississippi will require civil rights as part of its U.S. history curriculum. A new curriculum is being piloted this year in 10 schools. 10/04/2009
Garden Helps Students Grow
Teachers at a California school are finding ways to connect their school garden project to teaching core skills in such curriculum areas as science, math, and reading. 10/05/2009
Video Reviews Help Student With Autism
A middle-school student with Asperger's syndrome has been honored for inspiring his classmates and teachers with the popular weekly video-game reviews he delivers on his school's announcements. 10/05/2009
Boy's Choking Death Raises School Safety Awareness
An Indiana boy's family has been awarded $5 million in a lawsuit. The boy's choking death has focused attention on schools employees' lack of training in CPR and the Heimlich maneuver. 10/05/2009
Fitness a Priority with Schools' Standardized PE
Seattle's standardized PE curriculum, tested in 10 schools last year, aims to give kids a deeper understanding of health. The curriculum uses technology to track students' fitness over the years. 10/05/2009
Text Maps College Success
An Ohio high-school teacher has developed a curriculum -- including lessons on financial aid and scholarships, health, social skills and safety -- that aims to teach students to navigate college successfully. 10/04/2009
Educational? You Be the Judge
Frustrated by students' poor showing on tests of civics knowledge, retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is spearheading a project that develops Web-based games aimed at teaching about government. 10/04/2009
Study Critiques Schools Over Subjective Grading
More than 10,000 educators on three continents were give the same list of grades and asked to determine a final grade. Douglas Reeves says his experiment proves just how subjective grades can be. 10/04/2009
Preschool Program Helps Children of All Abilities
A Texas school district has expanded a program that pairs pre-K students with special needs with peers without disabilities. The goal of the program is to prepare all the students for mainstream kindergarten classes. 10/03/2009
A Crackdown on Bake Sales in City Schools
In an effort to limit how much sugar and fat students put in their bellies at school, the New York City schools have effectively banned most bake sales, a lucrative fund-raising staple for generations. 10/02/2009
School Opens Credit Union Branch
Riverview (Florida) High School just opened a student-run branch of the Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union. There are 12 student-run Suncoast branches in Hillsborough County. 10/02/2009
Schools Adopt Art as Building Block of Education
The Columbus school incorporates sculpture and other art into nearly every corner of its year-old building with the hope that it will inspire students in this working-class Hispanic neighborhood to learn. 10/01/2009
College Guarantees Teacher Graduates Will Be Ready
One Colorado college is so confident about its teacher education program that its graduates now come with a guarantee. Any teacher who requires more training can return to the classroom -- for free. 10/01/2009
Arlington (Virginia) Teachers Become Students in Handwriting Class
Two dozen Arlington County public schools educators gathered last week to learn how to teach handwriting -- proof that, even in this age of computers, old-fashioned writing hasn't gone out of fashion.10/01/2009
SEPTEMBER 2009
Public Schools Bringing Back Drivers' Ed
Some states are bringing back driver's education, a high-school staple in the 1970s, when 95 percent of students participated. Today, only about 15 percent of students take the training in school. 09/29/2009
Elgin (Ohio) Introduces Classroom "Wiihab"
An Ohio teacher is using a Nintendo Wii to improve special-needs students' motor skills. The games offer instant feedback on balance and performance and improves students' fine motor skills.09/28/2009
Technology Links Students to Fieldwork
Schools are increasingly using blogs, e-mail, and other online tools to bring scientific research within students' reach, and to make the work of scientists understandable and appealing to students.09/28/2009
No-Tolerance on Violence Improves Discipline
One Sacramento middle school had 507 suspensions last year due to its zero-tolerance policy, which went into effect in 2004. There were 64 percent fewer fights last year than in 2004, the principal said. 09/30/2009
Would Extended School Year Have Dire Economic Effects?
President Obama's call to extend the school year could result in a host of unintended consequences, including increased costs for schools and major cuts to the nation's tourism industry, critics say. 09/29/2009
Weeklong Program Focuses on Online Safety
CyberSmart, a free online curriculum about the risks and benefits of Internet usage was the foundation of a weeklong series of classroom lessons for all students in one Texas school district. 09/27/2009
History Class Dumps Books, Gets Personal
Des Moines high schools are offering a 20th-century history curriculum based on primary sources -- news coverage and speakers who can provide firsthand knowledge of issues such as immigration and war. 09/28/2009
Spanking Hurts Kids' IQ
Corporal punishment has been linked to a decrease in children's IQs. New research has found that 2- to 4-year-olds who were spanked on a regular basis demonstrated a five-point decrease in IQ level. 09/27/2009
Flu Threat Forces Schools to De-Emphasize Perfect Attendance
With the possibility of H1N1 flu outbreaks at schools, some districts are rethinking requirements for attendance awards. One district is considering awards for "outstanding" rather than "perfect" attendance.09/26/2009
Students Trade Desks for Spots on the Floor
Instead of rows of desks in fifth-grade teacher Rebecca Schpero's classroom, there are piles of colorful pillows. Students sit around the room with lapdesks or sprawled on pillows facing the Smart Board. 09/28/2009
EPA Tells Schools to Test Aging Caulk for PCBs
Hundreds of school buildings across the United States that were belt before the 1970s could have caulk around windows and doors that contains potentially cancer-causing PCBs, the EPA says. 09/28/2009
Schools Drop Out Of PTA
From a high mark of 12 million in the 1960s, national PTA membership has dropped to a little more than 5 million. In spite of ballooning enrollments, the PTA lost a million members in the past decade. 09/28/2009
More School: Obama Would Curtail Summer Vacation
Summer vacation could be sharply curtailed if President Obama gets his way. He says American kids spend too little time in school, putting them at a disadvantage with other students around the globe. 09/27/2009
Gifted, Talented Education Programs Coming Under Fire
Some special education advocates wish to eliminate gifted and talented programs from under the special ed umbrella. They say money dedicated for disabled children is being used for g-and-t services. 09/27/2009
Tech Drives Success in Title I Schools
A new report examines how districts can make the most of education technology funds, and an accompanying guide identifies effective school technology tools to help schools help Title I students succeed. 09/25/2009
Drinking Water Unsafe at Thousands of Schools
The drinking water at thousands of schools across the country has been found to contain unsafe levels of lead, pesticides, and dozens of other toxins. Contaminants can be found in schools in all 50 states. 09/25/2009
Digital Newspaper Is Boon to Learning
Some teachers in Florida can more easily access newspapers because of a new electronic format that allows them to project a realistic version of the newspaper onto interactive whiteboards. 09/23/2009
Local Food Comes to City Schools on "Meatless Monday"
Baltimore schools are overhauling their nutrition programs. For instance, on Mondays throughout the year, cafeteria menus are all vegetarian. This is believed to be a first for any large district nationwide. 09/24/2009
Online High Schools Test Students' Social Skills
As online high schools spread, educators try to counter the social isolation that some students experience. Experts are examining how such schooling hinders, or helps, social-skill development. 09/24/2009
Fed Education Chief to Dads: Turn Off TV, Read
"Educators desperately need parents to be more involved, particularly fathers, and fathers desperately need to be involved in their children's education,'' said Arne Duncan at a New Hampshire forum. 09/23/2009
Saving Music Programs in Las Vegas
As school enrollment drops, principals have some discretion in deciding which programs to cut and which to protect. They are working hard to preserve the district's much-lauded music program. 09/23/2009
Principal Gets Credit for Turning Schools Around
Matthew Tessier led Loma Verde Elementary out of federal sanctions with two years of dramatically improved test scores. Now the "turnaround specialist" is about to do the same thing at another school. 09/19/2009
Summer Vacation Makes Kids Smarter
Analysis of a U.S. Department of Education study found that children who traveled over summer break did better in reading, math and general knowledge than their peers who didn't travel during vacation. 09/22/2009
Chef Takes Lunch Crusade National
A chef who improved school lunches in Berkeley, has partnered with Whole Foods on a program called Lunch Box, which provides resources schools and parents can use to make school lunches more healthful. 09/16/2009
Academic Underachievers Overcome Frustration to Succeed
A Rutgers University study found that a healthy amount of frustration in a supportive environment fostered student interest, and allowing students to grapple with difficult math problems improved achievement. 09/18/2009
Student Homelessness Soars in Oregon Schools
The number of Oregon students who are homeless surged 14 percent in the past year, rising to 18,000 children and teens without a permanent home of their own, the state reported. 09/18/2009
Project Puts Top Educators in Troubled Schools
Seven school districts across the country are taking part in the Talent Transfer Initiative, a federal study to determine if top teachers can improve student achievement at poorly performing schools. 09/20/2009
Cursive May be a Fading Skill
Instruction in cursive writing has fallen by the wayside as schools use more technology in their curriculum. Some educators are concerned; others say it's important to emphasize newer communication means.09/19/2009
Return of K-8 Schools in Detroit?
After nearly a century of middle and junior high schools, one DPS manager wants to eliminate all the district's middle schools and switch back to kindergarten through eighth grade buildings. 09/20/2009
Cursive Writing May Be Fading Skill, But So What?
Handwriting is increasingly something we do only when we need to make a note to ourselves. Students who use computers to write have a hard time seeing the relevance of practicing cursive handwriting. 09/19/2009
Crossing Guard Provides Free Bikes to Help Needy Students
A crossing guard and her husband scoured flea markets, garage sales, and pawn shops for bikes. On Monday, six children rode away on two wheels and the guard plans to give away about six more. 09/18/2009
Teens Launch Website to Fight Obesity
Forty high-school students have created WereFedUp.com, a social network website to educate youths about junk food, obesity, and a growing rate of diabetes and heart disease among young people. 09/17/2009
Teachers Give Heroic Lessons
One school has experienced enough drama this month to last the rest of the year. Two children choking on food were saved by fast-acting staffers in separate incidents that occurred weeks apart. 09/17/2009
New York Launches School Curriculum Based on Playing Games
Video, board, and card games form the core of the first U.S. public school curriculum based entirely on game-inspired learning. Select sixth graders will take part at Manhattan's Quest to Learn (Q2L) school. 09/16/2009
Elementary Students Go to School in 1909
Students at Des Moines' Hubbell Elementary School will be transported Thursday to some semblance of life in 1909 -- the year their school opened -- as Hubbell celebrates a century of learning. 09/15/2009
Innovative Math Program Boosts Scores
At the 64 elementary sites using a pilot math program described as "thinking in pictures," 13 percent of students scored 'advanced' or 'proficient' on state tests, compared with 4.5 percent statewide. 09/15/2009
Mentors Give New Teachers the Tools to Stay on the Job
Officials in a Florida district are pairing new teachers with experienced full-time mentors through a program that officials hope will boost teacher retention rates. 09/11/2009
School Tool Brings Teamwork to Table
Young students at a Florida elementary school are collaborating more in the classroom by using a SMART Table -- an interactive touch-screen computer that allows up to eight students to work together. 09/15/2009
Chinese Language Class Gears Up at Burbank Elementary
A Mandarin Chinese and English dual-language immersion program is being offered this school year at Burbank Elementary, part of a pilot program launched by the Pasadena Unified School District. 09/13/2009
U.K. Scholar Says Facebook Boosts IQ
A Scottish researcher is making the case that spending time on Facebook can make you smarter because it requires users to exercise their working memory -- the ability to store and manipulate information. 09/11/2009
Schools Look Abroad to Hire Teachers
Some U.S. school districts have turned increasingly to overseas recruiting to find teachers willing to work in their hard-to-staff schools, according to a new report by the American Federation of Teachers. 09/14/2009
School Dress Code Proves a Hardship for SD Tribe
Some parents have joined the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in a federal lawsuit seeking to block the school district from enforcing a dress code that is placing financial hardship on many families. 09/13/2009
Schools: Online Writing Tool Boosts Test Scores
Last school year, five Chesterfield County middle schools piloted an online essay-grading tool and saw as much as 21 percent gains on eighth-graders' Standards of Learning writing test scores. 09/13/2009
Tacoma Schools Ready to Move on Racial Gap
A new report traces the history of the achievement gap in Tacoma from desegregation to the present. It also proposes at least one new idea for addressing it: eliminate chronic teacher absenteeism. 09/12/2009
School Bans Bracelet Used in Sex Game
A Colorado middle school is asking parents not to allow their children to wear a type of colored bracelet to school over concerns that the bracelets hold specific sexual connotations for students. 09/12/2009
Class Size Around the World
According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, an average of 23.1 students fill the typical American primary classroom, just above the world average of 21.4 students. 09/11/2009
Growing Minds Love Growing Gardens
Garden projects are sprouting at St. Louis-area elementary schools, preschools and day-care centers, a move educators hope may develop better eating and ecology habits for children. 09/09/2009
Bullying Laws Give Scant Protection
Laws meant to protect youngsters from bullies are largely ineffective, according to an Associated Press review, and several recent student suicides have parents and advocates calling for tougher measures. 09/14/2009
State Tells Schools to Teach Bible Literacy
A new state law requires Texas public schools to incorporate Bible literacy into the curriculum. But the law provides no specific guidelines, funding for materials or teacher training. 09/06/2009
Survey of K-12 Educators on Social Networking to be Released
A new survey of K-12 educators on social networking and content-sharing tools has been conducted to begin benchmarking educators' use and attitudes about Web 2.0 collaborative technologies. 09/10/2009
Technology Workshops for Teachers Make Computer Connections
Twice a month, it's Technology Thursday at New Orleans's Martin Behrman Charter Academy of Creative Arts & Sciences, where Assistant Principal Cherie Goins, presents 3-hour training sessions for teachers.09/10/2009
Flu Preparations Spur Online Learning Plans
To prepare for the H1N1 flu virus, federal education leaders recently formed a partnership with high-tech education companies to help students access curricula online.
09/09/2009
AIMS Program Starts Second Year
Students enrolled in a Pennsylvania academy program receive child-sized lab coats and laptops in an effort to foster student interest in math and science with expanded teaching, hands-on activities and field trips. 09/10/2009
Real Learning Lost in Chase for Test Scores
An MIT professor writes that current policies that focus on chasing an arbitrary score on a standardized science test, derails efforts to engage students in the processes and prospects of science. 09/10/2009
War, Genocide 'Difficult Knowledge' To Teach Younger Students
History of traumatic events such as war and genocide are better left to older students, who have typically developed a more refined historical consciousness, says one history education professor. 09/10/2009
Africentric School Makes History
This controversial Canadian school, whose enrollment surged by 30 percent in recent weeks, hopes to lower the dropout rate among black students by stretching the curriculum beyond its European roots. 09/09/2009
New Program Will Teach Students About 9/11
A new curriculum is expected to be tested this year at schools in seven states. Developed by the Sept. 11 Education Trust, the curriculum is based on primary sources, archival footage, and interviews. 09/08/2009
Changing Face of Principals: Hires Are Younger, Less Experienced
As aging principals retire, young ones are being hired to replace them. At issue is whether their enthusiasm and energy outweigh their inexperience to improve their school's performance. 09/07/2009
Surge in Homeless Pupils Strains Schools
A national surge of homeless schoolchildren is driven by relentless unemployment and foreclosures. The rise, to more than one million students, has tested budget-battered school districts. 09/05/2009
Teachers Balance Facts, Fear in Lessons About Sept. 11
One New York City firefighter will talk to Ohio teacher Jo Ann Rigano's third graders on September 11, just as he has done since her class adopted Squad 270 after the terrorist attacks. 09/05/2009
From K-12, Students Can Opt to Take Their Classes in Cyberspace
Florida ranks first among all states in online education policies and programs, according to a report from the Center for Digital Education. Nearly 60,000 Florida students took virtual courses last year. 09/04/2009
Low-Income Elementary School Is High Performing
One Raleigh elementary school is defying the trend. Nearly 44 percent of Lead Mine Elementary's 500 students get free or reduced lunches. Yet 85 percent passed end-of-grade tests. 09/03/2009
Top Notch Teachers Found to Affect Peers
A new study has found that student achievement rises across a grade when a high-quality teacher comes on board. The findings have implications for how schools are staffed and how educators are paid. 09/01/2009
Schools Look to Teacher Furloughs to Trim Budgets
At schools across the country, teachers -- once among the groups exempted from furlough days -- are being forced to take unpaid days off amid massive state budget cuts.09/01/2009
School Budget Cuts Put the Kibosh on Sports
High schools across the United States report that the recession has led to financial difficulties for extracurricular programs, forcing cost-cutting that's particularly painful as fall sports seasons open. 09/02/2009
High School Put-Downs Make It Hard for Students To Learn
A University of Illinois study suggests that classroom disruptions can contribute to a climate in which good students have difficulty learning and students who are behind have trouble catching up. 09/02/2009
Stimulus Funding Requirements Unfair for Rural States
Vermont's Commissioner of Education sent a letter to U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan claiming that some of the expectations in the stimulus package are more easily achieved by urban districts. 09/02/2009
Parents Upset Over 'Leftist Propaganda' Video
A school principal has apologized for showing a video that features celebrities making pledges about how they will help the president and the world -- and that's where some say the problem lies. 09/02/2009
The Secret of School Success
A USA Today editorial shares research about "self-regulation." One bit of research illustrates how kindergartners who master the "head and shoulders, knees and toes" game zoom ahead of others in learning. 09/02/2009
Bill Cosby Lends Support to Detroit Public Schools
Cosby will join the district's financial manager at a noon press conference. The two later will go door-to-door urging parents to keep their children in the public schools or return them to the district. 09/01/2009
AUGUST 2009
School Districts Join Online Social Networking Bandwagon
Texas school districts are taking a cue from their students and jumping onto social networking Web sites. Several districts set up Twitter accounts, and each has several hundred followers. 08/30/2009
Area Districts Tighten Standards for Substitutes
With the sour economy and a glut of job seekers, some districts say they now have the option to be choosier and some are requiring new substitutes to possess teacher certifications. 08/27/2009
Agreement Will Allow Parents' Groups to Pay for School Aides
The New York City Department of Education and the teachers' union reached an agreement on Tuesday to allow principals to hire school aides with money raised by parents' groups. 08/25/2009
SAT Scores Show Disparities by Race, Gender, Family Income
Overall, average national SAT scores for the high school class of 2009 dropped two points compared with last year, a new report says. But scores factored by race and ethnicity varied widely. 08/26/2009
Vision Problems Can Be Misdiagnosed as Learning Disabilities
Experts say one in four students have trouble seeing, which could be a reason for poor academic performance; some say poor vision sometimes leads to a misdiagnosis of a learning disability. 08/23/2009
Schools Fight Families Over Autism Service Dogs
A growing number of families are using service dogs to calm and help children with autism. Some schools say, however, that the dogs are not true service animals, but merely pets that offer comfort. 08/21/2009
Kindergarten Crunch: Lack of Playtime Killing Joy of Learning
A report calls for return to play-based teaching in kindergarten instead of "blindly pursuing policies that could damage the intellectual, social, and physical development of an entire generation." 08/24/2009
Academy for Principals Helped Raise English Scores
Graduates of the New York City Leadership Academy, a principal training program, helped increase test scores at a faster pace than new principals with more traditional résumés. 08/24/2009
Virginia Middle School to Use Blogs as a Teaching Tool
Passage Middle School in Newport News, Virginia, will maintaiN blogs written by students in every classroom. Principal Kipp Rogers hopes the blogs will help educators assess student writing. 08/24/2009
Finding the Elusive Best Teacher
As another school year starts, and students get to know their new teachers, two major national studies remind us that the single most important factor in a student's achievement is the quality of his or her teacher. 08/24/2009
Trend Toward Less Play in Kindergarten Questioned
A push to make kindergarten more rigorous has prompted questions as to whether it's wise. A recent study found that kindergarteners get 30 minutes of playtime for every three hours of instruction. 08/24/2009
Privacy Concerns Arise Over Student Data
Privacy concerns have touched off a debate this summer about whether schools should change the practice of sharing student contact information with outside sources. 08/24/2009
Teachers Spending More Personal Funds on Classrooms
Studies reveal that 93 percent of teachers spend personal money on school supplies for their classrooms. They spend an average of $395 out of pocket annually, with first-year teachers spending $770. 08/23/2009
NM Education Chief Keeps Pledge of Allegiance Rule
New Mexico's education secretary announced Friday that the state rule requiring the Pledge of Allegiance to be recited daily in public schools won't be altered to allow students to opt out. 08/22/2009
Urban Schools Use Marketing to Woo Back Residents
In Richmond, Virginia, a $50,000 campaign is highlighting district improvements in an effort to halt declining head counts so they can retain their funding, especially in light of drastic state budget cuts. 08/22/2009
What Teachers Have Learned
After experts discuss the value of education degrees, teachers offer their views on whether teacher prep programs are necessary, or if subject-matter expertise and life experience matter more. 08/24/2009
Schools Prepare for the Worst as Flu Looms
As Minnesota's schools prepare to open, administrators are shoring up their defenses against a new round of swine flu outbreaks. And those preparations are getting creative. 08/22/2009
Virtual 3-D Lab Aims to Stimulate Learning
Students at a Baltimore County high school this fall will explore Mount St. Helens in a vehicle that can morph from an aircraft to a car to a boat to learn how the area has changed since the volcano's 1980 eruption. 08/24/2009
Time for Class, Teach; Take Out the Tongue Stud
Teachers in one Maryland district attended a fashion show of appropriate -- and inappropriate -- ways to dress. Each employee received an "Expectations for Professional Attire" pamphlet too. 08/21/2009
Advantages of Full Day Kindergarten Questioned
Officials in Utah are weighing the value of full-day kindergarten and whether to continue a $30 million initiative to offer it all day. Utah does not require children to attend kindergarten, even for half a day.08/20/2009
At Aiea Intermediate School, Engagement Is Key
Educators at a Hawaii middle school adopted the attitude that every student could succeed regardless of background; an attitude they say has led them to have some of the highest test scores in the state. 08/20/2009
Study Finds Online Education Beats the Classroom
A recent report conducted for the Department of Education reached a most intriguing conclusion: "On average, students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction." 08/19/2009
Gates Foundation Seeks Education's Magic Pill
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded its most recent grants to districts that will help the foundation quantify what exactly makes a teacher effective and how to tie that to student achievement. 08/19/2009
Fewer Male Teachers in K-12 Classrooms
In Illinois, the percentage of male teachers is declining. In Chicago, for example, there are five female teachers for every male teacher. Many educators believe this trend impacts the way kids learn. 08/19/2009
Kids Learn to 'Cowboy Up'
In Arizona, the Cowboys and Kids program is teaching school kids about the rodeo and how they can use the cowboy philosophy in their daily life to make positive choices and build character. 08/18/2009
Obama Calls for Fixing Education in Black Communities
With all the challenges facing the black community, identifying just one as the most fundamental seems impossible. Not, however, for President Obama, who recently cited education as the most important issue. 08/17/2009
Educators Consider New Federal Guide on Math Intervention
A new practice guide from the U.S. Department of Education, offers eight recommendations for providing remediation in math to students in elementary and middle school through the RTI process. 08/18/2009
Schools Prepare for Swine Flu
As Chicago children return to class this fall, they'll find that any trace of a feverish forehead or deep cough could quickly land them in the nurse's office with a call home to pick them up.08/18/2009
Teens Tackle Real-World Math
Drawing on experience in telecommunications and journalism, an Oklahoma City math teacher is using real-world scenarios and technology to teach ninth-graders math concepts. 08/17/2009
Interest Grows in e-Textbooks
As textbook costs rise, so too does interest in e-books. E-books are less expensive for consumers to purchase; they're also cheaper for publishers to produce, store and ship. 08/15/2009
Coach Sued for Requesting Facebook Log Ins
A high school cheerleader is suing her school and former coach for violations of her rights to privacy and free speech. At issue: Do school leaders have a right to snoop into students' private online accounts? 08/03/2009
Second Life for Computers
A computer-reclamation project in Alabama benefits schools while reducing waste. Project Tree collects computers from businesses, refurbishes them, then makes available free to school systems. 08/17/2009
Middle School Faculty Making House Calls
More than 280 incoming sixth-graders are getting a summer house call. Staff members of one Texas middle school are making these visits part of their mission. All staff members are participating. 08/13/2009
School Change: Reward Better Behavior
One Illinois district has amended its discipline code to allow students to wipe out penalty points with points for good behavior and extracurricular activities. The changes also alter the way data is collected. 08/11/2009
Schools Get Tougher on Student Cellphone Use
Two Georgia school systems are upping the ante when it comes to the use of cellphones and other electronic devices on school grounds, including spelling out possible fines and in-school suspensions. 08/10/2009
School Nurses in Short Supply
Nationwide, the ratio of nurses to students falls short of federally recommended standards, raising concerns that the shortage could undermine efforts to control what could be a deadly flu season. 08/10/2009
Wind-Powered Education Blowing Into Colorado
Six Colorado schools will receive a wind turbine under the Energy Department's Wind for Schools program. The turbines will be used to teach about science, engineering, and renewable energy. 08/09/2009
Year-Round Programs in Full Swing
More and more U.S. schools are adopting year-round calendars. Almost 2 million students currently attend such programs -- a 400 percent increase over the last 12 years. 08/09/2009
In a Digital Future, Textbooks Are History
Many educators say it won't be long before textbooks are replaced by digital versions -- or by lessons assembled from free courseware, educational games, videos, and projects on the Web. 08/08/2009
Advocates for Gifted Students Want Teachers to Have Specialized Training
Enrollments are dwindling in graduate education programs that train teachers to work with gifted students. That leaves gifted students in classes with teachers who may have little training in their special needs. 08/09/2009
A Hard Lesson for Teachers
When school begins this month, as many as 100,000 of last year's teachers won't have jobs, according to the NEA. Layoffs caused by tight school budgets are forcing thousands of teachers out of the classroom. 08/10/2009
Program Teaches Low-Income Kids to Dance
Out with television and hanging out. In with the tango and quickstep. A ballroom dance program for kids is getting them away from negative influences and giving them something to feel proud of. 08/09/2009
Looking for Lessons After a Longer Day
The Expanded Learning Time Initiative, a program to promote longer school days in Massachusetts, is showing some benefits, including higher test scores. But a few schools have dropped out of the program. 08/09/2009
Reviving the Art of Putting Pencil to Paper
This summer some parents are sending kids off to Handwriting Camp, where Captain Pencil is the resident superhero and mastery of r's, m's, n's, p's, and other letters earns high praise. 08/09/2009
Schools Struggling to Create Stable Corps of Principals
Like many other districts, Milwaukee is finding it difficult to find top-notch leaders for its schools. A new program hopes to change that, though some principals have reservations about it. 08/09/2009
Parents Sue Over Elementary School's Year-Round Schedule
Parents of students in one Nevada elementary school are suing the district in hopes of returning the school to a nine-month schedule. They say the district hasn't justified the year-round schedule. 08/07/2009
Furloughs Alter Teachers' Schedules, Paychecks
Furloughs are altering the schedules and paychecks of most Georgia teachers. The furloughs are expected to save the state about $33 million a day and cost teachers about $200 a day. 08/06/2009
'Obama Effect' at School: Black Parents Volunteer, Expect More
A new survey suggests that President Obama's victory last November had a positive effect not just on the academic expectations of black Americans -- it may have raised parents' interests in volunteerism. 08/06/2009
Thousands Turn Out for Mayor's Back to School Fair
Thousands of Dallas students and their parents waited in line for immunizations, dental checks, and even free haircuts at the 13th annual Mayor's Back to School Fair at Fair Park this morning. 08/06/2009
Hot Veggie Entrees Now on School Lunch Menu
This fall, a vegetarian entree will appear daily on one Virginia district's cafeteria menus. Offerings will include veggie burritos, vegetable calzones, stuffed pasta shells, and beans with rice. 08/06/2009
21st-Century Skills Movement Grows
Illinois, Louisiana, and Nevada have become the latest states to join the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, a national effort to integrate 21st-century skills into teaching and learning. 06/22/2009
JULY 2009
Test Scores Sell Neighborhoods
Improving standardized test scores can boost a community's profile and property values, say business and real estate professionals. They are also one of the first things a homebuyer might look at, experts say.07/26/2009
High Schools Develops Formula for Achievement
Officials credit a formula of teacher enthusiasm, after-school teaching, individual help for marginal students, and emphasis on literacy, basic skills, and test preparation for turning around a Las Vegas high school.07/27/2009
Students Say Technology Aids Academics
A recent study found that three-quarters of teens feel that technology helps them with schoolwork. The study also said 82 percent of participants use cell phones more than any other electronic device in school. 07/28/2009
Virtual College Tours Offer Low-Cost Campus Snapshots
Virtual campus tours offer high-school students the chance to see colleges without leaving home. YOUniversityTV.com has video tours of more than 400 four-year U. S. institutions. 07/27/2009
Teach for America: Elite Corps or Costing Older Teachers Jobs?
Critics say the growth of TFA is coming at the expense of experienced teachers who are losing their jobs, in some cases to make room for TFA, which brings in teachers at beginners' salaries and underwrites training. 07/29/2009
Business Is Brisk for Teacher Training Alternatives
Interest in programs that prepare new teachers has spiked, driven by a vast number of people switching careers during the economic downturn. But not enough potential teachers are drawn to hard-to-fill specialties. 07/31/2009
Volunteers and Donations Work to Fill School Needs
A Salvation Army program helps K-12 kids whose families aren't able to afford necessary school supplies. The goal is to give families one less thing to worry about before school starts. 07/30/2009
Don't Talk, Drive in School Zones
After debating its enforceability, one Indiana city passed an ordinance banning cell phone use by motorists driving through school crossing zones. Fines for breaking the law will range from $75 to $250. 07/28/2009
Administrators Say Year-Round School Works for Them
Students in one Tennessee school district went back to class yesterday. The schools are on a year-round calendar and administrators say shorter summers and more frequent breaks work for them. 07/27/2009
New Mexico Schools May Adopt Opt-Out Policy for Reciting Pledge
New Mexico Secretary of Education Veronica Garcia is considering a policy that allows students the option of not saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Some state districts already have that policy. 07/27/2009
Teachers Weigh in on Wal-Mart Plan to Build in Virginia
One hundred fifteen teachers signed a petition to stop Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s plan to build a Supercenter. They ask the company to "respect this hallowed battleground of American history." 07/27/2009
Most Parents in Favor of School Swine Flu
Parents seem to be listening to warnings that the H1N1 flu strain strikes the young more often than the old. A poll shows that most parents like the idea of vaccinating children against swine flu at school. 07/27/2009
Book Smarts? E-Texts Receive Mixed Reviews from Students
Nationwide, universities, high schools and elementary schools are launching initiatives to test whether electronic texts that can be viewed on e-book readers can cut costs and improve learning. 07/20/2009
More Schools Consider Extending Class Time
More districts are experimenting with adding hours to the school day and days to the school year. Critics say schools can't afford longer hours and longer hours don't necessarily mean additional learning. 07/27/2009
Layoffs Prompt Teachers to Move Online
As state officials cut education budgets to battle declining tax revenues, some virtual schools and online learning providers are reporting huge increases in teaching applications for the coming school year. 07/17/2009
Bill Gates Stresses the Importance of Good Teachers
The United States must improve its educational standing by rewarding effective teaching and developing better, universal measures of performance for students and teachers, says Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. 07/22/2009
An Apple for Your Teacher
Some districts say stimulus funds for technology are a mixed blessing. They question the value of Smart Boards, mini-laptops or video equipment when schools are losing teachers or cutting programs. 07/22/2009
Draft of National Standards Elicit Mixed Reviews
A draft of academic standards, meant to bring greater coherence to the nation's English and mathematics lessons, is drawing a mix of enthusiastic, ambivalent, and barbed responses from those who have seen it. 07/23/2009
Pursuing an Academic Edge at Home
A growing variety of online educational programs are providing children with access to learning at home. The companies are offering tutoring programs with such interactive features as games and animation. 07/22/2009
Are Boys Falling Behind in School?
Tom Mealey's classroom is a bit different from other elementary classrooms. There are no girls. By almost every achievement measure, boys across the nation are falling behind their female peers. 07/26/2009
Cellphones Teach Phonics, Animation and More in School
Smart phones have hundreds of applications to educate kids -- from graphic calculators to animation programs that teach spelling and phonics. And some school districts have started to put the technology to use. 07/27/2009
CDC: 1 in 7 Preschoolers Obese
The U.S. obesity epidemic, which afflicts all age groups, has stabilized in the past five years among preschool-age children at about one in seven children, government researchers say. 07/24/2009
Web Site Raises Thousands of Dollars for Public Schools
Charles Best created donorschoose.org, a website that connects people who want to donate to classrooms and teachers. Site visitors have donated $35 million. Included: a video interview with Best. 07/24/2009
Schools Trading Fryers for Oven Steamers
Goodbye fried chicken, catfish and french fries. This school year, students will get a helping of healthier choices thanks to a grant that replaces the schools' traditional fryers with oven steamers. 07/22/2009
Retired Teacher to Establish Schools in Nepal
Jim Tillotson is not the champion mountaineer of the Himalayas, but the New York native just dedicated a library to rural schoolchildren and is about to launch a school development project. 07/22/2009
NASA Space Camp Gives Teachers Ideas for the Classroom
Teacher Marilyn Cherry never dreamed of being an astronaut, but she knows the future of space exploration depends on getting students like her fifth graders excited about the possibilities. 07/21/2009
We Rent Movies; Why Not Textbooks?
It seems that college students would rather rent a textbook than buy one. As textbook rental company Chegg (“chicken and egg”) prepares for its third academic year, business is booming. 07/04/2009
Student's Persuasive Letter Persuades HP
A fifth-grader's persuasive writing assignment convinced a Hewlett-Packard vice president to donate $72,000 of computer equipment to Sherwood Elementary School in Memphis, Tennessee. 07/15/2009
Key Teams Tapped in Standards Push
The National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, two groups pushing for national standards for education, have announced the team members that will develop the standards. 07/14/2009
Parents, Schools Seek Homework Balance
The question of how much homework is helpful has some districts seeking a compromise with parents. One popular standard is the "10-minute rule" -- 10 minutes of homework for every grade level. 07/14/2009
Building Character in Crisis
Citing recent national scandals, some education leaders are calling for the creation of "schools of integrity," where ethics education and character development are taught as part of the curriculum. 07/14/2009
Summer Camp Helps Teachers Learn
A North Carolina summer program is giving teachers additional training in educating advanced students -- and providing teachers with an opportunity to test lesson plans in a classroom setting.07/14/2009
Spaced Out Learning
Some Virginia middle schoolers are learning about environmentally friendly living and how to reduce their ecological footprint as they build scaled-down models of homes during a summer program for gifted students. 07/15/2009
Music Used to Teach Language
A Minnesota school district has implemented a music program for English-language learners that a music researcher hopes will help prove the cross-disciplinary value of arts programs in schools. 07/11/2009
Five Schools Accused of 'Template Writing' on FCAT
A total of 49 elementary schools in Florida were identified as using "template writing." The state is reviewing its policies because the same phrases showed up in many students' writing samples. 07/21/2009
Schools Cracking Down on 'Sexting'
One Florida district has toughened its cell phone policy to include suspension and possible expulsion for any student caught sending explicit images. Incidents will also be reported to police. 07/20/2009
In Purchase of School, Hopes of Saving a Neglected Monument
A new owner hopes to turn Sumner Elementary School in Topeka into a memorial. The school was thrust into the national spotlight in the Brown v. Board of Education decision of 1954. 07/19/2009
'Dumpster Diving' Turns Up $19K Grant for Schools
When seventh-graders conducted a waste audit at their school, they found that 65 percent of trash was recyclable. So their teacher wrote a grant to start a recycling program for the district. 07/17/2009
Big Yard Sale Benefits Schools, Community
A community yard sale will help residents of on town make a little money as they help the schools. The money raised from space and table rentals and raffles is designated for the schools. 07/16/2009
President to Give Billions to Community Colleges
Under the president's multi-billion dollar plan to invest in the nation's two-year colleges, schools could qualify for challenge grants so they'll have money to try new programs or expand training and counseling. 07/16/2009
Too Much Homework? Parents, Schools Seek Balance
A grassroots parents movement has taken hold in recent years calling for less -- or better -- homework. They argue that too much homework is mindless busywork. Many schools are taking note. 07/16/2009
Achievement Gap Narrows: The Nation's Report Card
Progress has been made in closing the achievement gap between black and white students. The narrowing of that gap varies by region and grade, according to a new study from the NCES. 07/15/2009
Student's Compelling Letter Earns $72,000 of Equipment
Kristina White, 11, took a persuasive writing assignment so seriously this spring that more than $72,000 worth of Hewlett-Packard technology will be arriving at her elementary school. 07/15/2009
Technology Helped Boost Student Achievement, Study Shows
According to a study, a $20 million technology overhaul in on Florida county has helped increase student achievement and the school district's grade -- which has risen from a C in 2003 to an A this year. 07/13/2009
School District Hosting Computer Sale
After hundreds lined up last year, Plainfield (Illinois) schools will once again hold a community-wide computer sale. The district will sell about 800 used laptops and 1,500 desktop computers. 07/13/2009
Boston Schools Lacking in PE
Boston's public schools have failed to provide any formal instruction in physical education to about 25 percent of the city's students, despite a state law that requires PE for students in all grades. 07/13/2009
Schools Target Tobacco
Getting rid of a smoking habit is easier said than done, and that's why area schools are launching a program to help youngsters in 19 middle and high schools avoid the habit altogether. 07/13/2009
School Puts Energy Into Going Green
The environmental theme at the new Rogers International School permeates the school from its garden roof down to the extra coats of eco-friendly floor polish applied to its tile floors. 07/12/2009
Summer School Program Prepares Kids for Kindergarten
Some California 4- and 5-year-olds are getting ready for kindergarten with the help of a seven-week summer program that teaches listening and social skills as well as basic academics.07/09/2009
Changes Urged in Special Education
The Boston public schools are keeping too many students with disabilities out of regular classrooms and may be wrongfully identifying some students for special services, according to a recent report. 07/09/2009
Bilingual Kids Learn Words More Easily
Learning two languages simultaneously does not delay the age at which toddlers reach developmental language milestones, according to a study published this week in Science Magazine. 07/09/2009
Healthy Lunch Might Improve Student Behavior
Students who eat healthy school lunches in comfortable dining rooms are 18 percent more likely to concentrate on and engage in learning afterward, according to recent research.07/07/2009
Researchers to Examine Assistive Technologies
Researchers are studying the effectiveness of mobile tools for students with learning disabilities, alternative Web browsers for students with visual disabilities, and spell-checking for children with dyslexia. 07/07/2009
Interracial Roommates Can Reduce Prejudice
Several recent studies, at Ohio State and elsewhere, have found that having a roommate of a different race can reduce prejudice, diversify friendships and even boost black students' academic performance. 07/07/2009
Summer Spells Trouble for Teens
In summer, experts say, teens often engage in high-risk activities due to a lack of structure and supervision. In a recession, shrinking employment opportunities exacerbates these risks. 07/06/2009
Team Sports Can't Compete With Films to Keep Kids From Smoking
Taking part in team sports lowers the odds of children smoking, but can't compete with the powerful influence of smoking in movies, according to Dartmouth Medical School's Department of Pediatrics. 07/06/2009
Schools Encounter Shortage of Black Male Teachers
Just 2 percent of U.S. teachers are black men, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a situation that some fear could make school less engaging and relevant for African-American students, particularly boys. 07/04/2009
Studies Probe "Value Added" Measures
A new study by a Princeton University economist suggests that "value-added" methods for determining the effectiveness of classroom teachers are built on some shaky assumptions and may be misleading. 07/01/2009
Free Online Course Helps Students Plan Careers
A free online learning program from Microsoft is helping middle and high school students think about careers they might like to pursue and the skills necessary to attain those careers.07/10/2009
Obama Names Picks for Education Posts
President Obama plans to nominate a state schools chief from the Midwest and the leader of a New England nonprofit group to fill two high-ranking positions at the U.S. Department of Education. 07/09/2009
Student Challenges Texas Dress Code in Federal Court
A Texas school district's dress code unfairly limits students' freedom of expression, says a student who was nearly suspended for wearing a political T-shirt. The district bans all "nonschool messages." 07/08/2009
Summer School Uses Robots to Teach Science and Math
A summer-school program for disadvantaged students uses robots to interest students in math and science. Students build robots that compete against each other, testing design and math abilities. 07/08/2009
Teen's Research Earns a Planet Named in Her Honor
A recent Arizona high-school graduate who won second place in the plant-sciences category of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, will have a minor planet named in her honor. 07/08/2009
Grading Teachers
When U.S. secretary of education Arne Duncan called for higher professional standards at last week's NEA Annual Meeting, teachers in attendance booed and hissed. 07/08/2009
Young Children Spending More Time Online
Results of a Nielsen Online study found that almost 16 million U.S. children ages 2 to 11 went online in May. The time young children spend online has increased 63 percent in the past five years, the research said. 07/08/2009
Students Tackle Podcasting in Summer Class
Saying podcasts will one day be an alternative to book reports and projects, a Virginia teacher seeks to build student confidence and tech skills through a program that teaches them to create podcasts. 07/08/2009
Summer Programs Prepare Students for Advanced Placement
Newark, New Jersey, students interested in Advanced Placement courses this fall are getting a two-week summer preview as part of an effort to boost enrollment in the college-level classes. 07/07/2009
NRC Offers Greater Focus on Preschool Math
Early-childhood education needs to be revamped to place more emphasis on math instruction and prepare adults to cover that material more effectively, a new report concludes. 07/02/2009
Schools Face Shortage of Black Male teachers
The shortage of black male teachers compounds the difficulties that many African American boys face in school. About half of black male students do not complete high school in four years, statistics show.07/04/2009
JUNE 2009
Abstinence Only Sex Education Doesn't Work
Existing studies on sex education have found that abstinence-only programs do not prevent or delay sex nor reduce the number of sex partners, an American Medical Association committee found. 06/30/2009
Cyber Bullying Affects 1 in 10 Students
An NIH study found that over a two-month period, 20.8 percent of children in grades 6 -10 were perpetrators or victims of physical bullying, 53.6 percent of verbal bullying, and 13.6 percent of cyber bullying. 06/29/2009
Newark Schools to Loan Books for Summer Reading
To boost student literacy and improve academics, the Newark, New Jersey, school district is spending $180,000 to distribute thousands of books to students for its required summer reading program. 06/29/2009
Sands Shift in Summer Reading
Concerned about turning reading into work and hoping to get students to enjoy reading, more educators are recommending lighter reads over the summer rather than pressing teens to read literary classics. 06/28/2009
States Weigh Setting One Bar for Students
Efforts to establish national education standards have always foundered, but the time might be ripe for a common set of K-12 math and reading standards that states could opt to adopt. 06/28/2009
Individualized Program Graduates a Class With No Dropouts
Not a single student dropped out in the four years this year's graduating class spent at Camden's MetEast High School, a new, urban New Jersey public high school -- and each graduate has been accepted into college. 06/27/2009
Students at Schools With Extended Year Start Summer Late
Summer break is finally here for students at four Michigan schools that are an 11-month calendar. Trimming summer from 10 to six weeks is designed to curtail what educators call "the summer slide." 06/24/2009
A Pilot Program Brings Math into the Real World
Teaching students to fly rockets and build model cars helps get high-school students excited about trigonometry and geometry as part of a program piloting a more real-world approach to math through career-technical programs.06/23/2009
Students Learn How to Make Gardens Grow
A 4-H sponsored program at one middle school involves students in hands-on learning about gardening and proper nutrition. Students have build cold frames, raised beds, composts, and more. 06/23/2009
Five States Develop Green Curriculum
Five states have committed to developing green career and technical education initiatives. Those states will create secondary and post-secondary programs that will lead to certificates and associate and bachelor degrees.
06/24/2009
Texas Rejects Plan to Adopt National School Standards
Texas has decided to steer clear of a national effort -- involving 46 states -- to develop uniform "common core" standards that spell out what K-12 students should be taught in English and math. 06/23/2009
Extreme Book Club Pulls Students In
Extreme Read brings students, parents and teachers together to talk about books they agreed to read together. The book club has been singled out as a great way to involve parents. 06/24/2009
Subsidized Lunch Program Surges in Sacramento County
In a sign that the recession is increasing child poverty, the rate of Sacramento County students taking subsidized lunch grew faster this school year than any of the prior 15 years, new figures show. 06/24/2009
Spelling and Writing Strategies for Students With Dyslexia
For students with dyslexia, the ability to perform at grade level alongside peers in the classroom and later at college depends not only on reading abilities but writing and spelling tasks as well.06/23/2009
RTI in Math Deemed Challenging
A new federal practice guide for educators lays out recommendations for making the RTI approach work in math as well as reading. Educators agree that applying RTI to math is challenging -- but worth the effort. 06/21/2009
Program Teaches Engineering in Elementary School
A class in South Florida is teaching elementary-school students the basics of computer science and robotics, subjects that program founder Lucy Tamez hopes will better prepare them for high-school science. 06/22/2009
Schools Suffer Despite Stimulus Funding
The nearly $100 billion for education in the federal stimulus package might be helping school districts staunch the bleeding, but many district leaders say it isn't nearly enough to meet their needs.06/17/2009
Benefits of Year-Round School Touted
While summer break for most Shreveport (Louisiana) public school students began in May, school books still are being read, lessons still are being taught and children still are still learning at Shreve Island Elementary. 06/23/2009
Artificial Turf Gets a Foothold at High Schools Across Region
Many high schools nationwide are turning to artificial turf. It has gone down in price and up in quality. It survive relentless wear and tear. But its spread has fed some concerns about public safety. 06/23/2009
Failing Alabama School Now One of Nation's Best
Principal Terri Tomlinson opens her classrooms to anyone who wants to see how a school goes from having some of the worst test scores in the county to having one of the best reputations in the country.06/22/2009
Programs Encourage Male Presence in Schools
The Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students) program encourages fathers or adult males to spend time at school, where they do everything from assisting teachers to eating lunch with students. 06/2009
Sum Help: New Search Engine for Mathletes
A new search engine, which some think will challenge Google as the search engine of choice, has unique "math shortcut" features that some teachers think could encourage student laziness. 06/2009
The Permanent Recession: Is Our Educational System to Blame?
In a USA Today editorial, Laura Vanderkam says it's no secret that America's educational system doesn't stack up well with the rest of the world. She says this fact has a dramatic economic toll, too. 06/2009
Senator: Make It a Crime to Change Test Scores
A leading state senator says it should be a crime for Georgia educators to change students' answers on standardized tests, and the governor has indicated he may be willing to support such a law. 06/2009
Two Years of Hard Lessons For D.C. Schools' Agent of Change
In her quest to transform the District's long-broken system, Supt. Michelle A. Rhee has had a sometimes-painful education. The lessons tell the story of her tenure as her second school year draws to a close. 06/2009
Little Girl Gets Big Note from Obama
A Wisconsin girl has a rock-solid excuse for missing the last day of school: she was present at an appearance President Obama made nearby. And she has a personal excuse note from the president. 06/2009
Rolling Labs Bring Science to Kids
Mobile science labs -- buses or semis outfitted with the basics of science education -- bring hands-on science tools to students, and provide teacher training in a field that can see curriculum change overnight. 06/2009
Kids Reap Benefit of Long School Year
Roughly 1,000 schools -- 80 percent charter schools and 20 percent traditional public schools -- have expanded their schedules by more than one to two hours a day, according to the National Center on Time and Learning. 06/2009
No Longer Letting Scores Separate Pupils
This fall, middle school students in Stamford, Connecticut, will learn together in mixed-ability classes because, district officials say, the long-held system of academic tracking is unfair and divisive.06/2009
Electronic Chalkboards Transform Classrooms
Interactive whiteboard technology increases students' interest and attention span and improves behavior, educators say. Educator interest in the technology, designed in the early 1990s, has increased in the past three years. 06/2009
Web Site Allows Students to Report Bullying
Hillsborough County, Florida, officials soon will launch a Web site that will allow students to anonymously report bullying incidents. The goal is to help students by bringing such incidents to light. 06/2009
Non-Profit Selecting Teachers for Spacecraft Flights
A Texas elementary-school science teacher is a finalist to participate in a short, suborbital flight on a private spacecraft. The nonprofit program was inspired by, but is not affiliated with, the NASA Teachers in Space program. 06/2009
Horses Assist Struggling Students
Struggling students have improved at an Ohio school that incorporates working with horses into the curriculum. The horses seem to bring out the best in teens, says a social worker at the school. 06/2009
Stereotypes Lower Test Scores
When students take a test in school, how well they perform depends on how smart they are, how hard they have studied and something else: how they see themselves and how others see them. 06/2009
Phys Ed May Have Little Effect on Kids' Overall Daily Activity
Giving children more opportunities for physical education in school may not increase their overall activity level or be effective in reducing childhood obesity rates, a new study suggests. 06/2009
Ohio Teacher Accused of Preaching in Class Sues District
An Ohio school teacher says in a $1 million lawsuit that his free speech and civil rights were violated. Eighth-grade teacher John Freshwater also says he was harassed and defamed because of his religion. 06/2009
Schwarzenegger Pushes for Digital Textbooks
Governor Schwarzenegger intends to make free, open-source digital textbooks available for high school math and science classes, a move that he says will reduce a $350 million state budget line. 06/2009
Suspensions Ineffective in Improving Students' Behavior
Suspensions are ineffective in improving student discipline and are applied unevenly as a "reflex response" to infractions, according to a Maryland task force. The task force says alternatives must be found. 06/2009
New Buses Cut Belching
They look like school buses but they don't smell or sound like them. One Texas school district showed off three of its new propane-powered buses and touted the $303,150 in subsidies they received. 06/2009
Kids Reap Benefits of Long School Year
Roughly 1,000 schools have expanded their schedules by more than one to two hours a day or 300 hours a year. Some, but not all, of those schools are seeing the benefits of extended school days and years. 06/2009
Pressuring Parents Helps S.F. Slash Truancy
San Francisco schools showed a 23 percent drop in the number of elementary students skipping classes this year as citywide efforts, including parental prosecution, appeared to be paying off. 06/2009
Teachers Snub Scholastic Toys
Scholastic, the longtime children's book publisher, is being sent to detention by some teachers who say its book club catalogs and fairs are too heavy on toys and too light on quality books. 06/2009
Short on Funds, Districts Declare Fiscal Emergency
Districts that have declared fiscal crises in the last year range from those in smaller cities (Pocatello, Idaho) and counties (Jefferson County in Florida) to a major metropolis such as Dallas, according to an AP report. 06/18/2009
Special Needs Children Get Field of Dreams
A Pittsburg Pirates Charities Miracle League field opened recently in Cranberry, Pennsylvania. The field, topped by a rubberized surface, hosts a league for special-needs children. 06/17/2009
Rap Boosting Kids' Academics
A pilot program called "Rap to Roots" is having success in inner city schools in Denver, Chicago, and Cleveland. The after-school series teaches kids to use rap's rhythm, rhymes, and history to boost their academics. 06/16/2009
School Kids Learn to Compost
Sarah Davis teaches kids in Phoenix, Arizona, all about the importance of composting. Kids learn what goes in and what must stay out of their school's nicely layered (like "messy lasagna") compost. 06/15/2009
Chemistry Day Provides Students With Early Exposure
"Science" isn't limited to space, the environment, and animals -- the bulk of grade schools' science education content and the impetus behind Chemistry Days taking place at some at D.C.-area schools. 06/12/2009
Bonuses Sought to Lure Teachers
The Tuscaloosa schools are considering bonuses of up to $10,000 to entice teachers to work at and help pull a district school out of school improvement status, where it has resided for four years. 06/10/2009
Students Stay Busy Up to the Last Day
As school winds down for the year, teachers are working to keep students' attention. Teacher Jana Avison saved one of her most engaging projects, in which students create blogs, for the last weeks of school. 06/09/2009
Colleges Scan Facebook During Admissions
About a quarter of colleges and universities polled in a recent survey said admissions officers research prospective students' social-networking profiles before extending admission or scholarships. 06/08/2009
Special-Ed Students Create Bullying Movie
Michigan students with special needs who were troubled by bullies made a movie to help one another overcome the problem. In the film, they are heroes who don't let bullies get the best of them. 06/05/2009
Pool of Teachers Being Depleted
Nationwide, the numbers of teaching credentials issued and students majoring in education are in sharp decline. Experts warn that news of layoffs could exacerbate the trend. 06/04/2009
Aspiring Teachers Fall Short on Math
Nearly three-quarters of aspiring elementary school teachers who took Massachusetts' licensing exam this year failed the math section, according to state education officials. 06/03/2009
Arts Appear to Play Role in Brain Development
As many districts cut the arts to concentrate on getting struggling students to pass tests, a growing body of brain research suggests that teaching the arts may be good for students across all disciplines. 06/02/2009
Teachers Shielded from Lawsuits
Indiana governor Mitch Daniels recently signed into law a bill that will give teachers who "act reasonably" to discipline students or break up fights immunity from lawsuits relating to those incidents. 06/01/2009
Recession Takes Toll on Students
Unlike the during Great Depression, the current economic downturn's toll is far less obvious: children are grappling with more stress at home and low-income families are being forced to pull up stakes and move more often. 06/2009
Four States Yet to Agree to Standards
Forty-six states and the District of Columbia are part of a plan to craft a single vision for what K-12 children should learn. The four states on the holdout list are Alaska, Missouri, South Carolina and Texas. 06/2009
Web Site Lets Parents Track Data on Students
After several months of delays, a Web site that offers an interactive portfolio of New York City public school students' test scores, grades, and attendance will be available soon for all City parents. 06/2009
Students Roar as Principal Rewards Them for TAKS
Houston-area school leaders are eating worms, shaving their heads, dancing on roofs, kissing a donkey, and even dressing as "Manah" Montana to reward students for boosting test scores. 06/2009
Five Schools Chosen for Teacher Pay Pilot Program
Performance pay for teachers is officially on track in Utah. Five schools will divvy up $300,000 a year for two years to create performance pay pilot programs for elementary teachers and classroom-related staff. 06/2009
Connecticut District Tosses Algebra Textbooks
Westport Connecticut teachers, frustrated that students weren't grasping important concepts, have replaced their 1,000-plus-page math textbooks with a custom-designed online curriculum.06/2009
Next Test: Value of $125,000-a-Year Teachers
Is it quality teaching that matters most when it comes to student achievement? An eight-teacher dream team at a NYC charter school will be paid $125,000 each in an experiment that might help answer that question. 06/2009
A Red-Letter Day at National Spelling Bee
A tangle of words, letters, and anxiety sums up the final rounds of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. About 12 hours after the day's competition began, Kavya Shivashankar of Kansas held this year's trophy. 06/2009
Kids With ADHD Need to Fidget
Children with ADHD might need to fidget to access their short-term memory, according to a study from the University of Central Florida. Only when their concentration wasn't needed did the boys sit still, researchers said. 06/2009
California Considers Open Digital Textbooks
In what could be a first-of-its-kind statewide initiative, California education leaders are working to compile a list of free digital textbooks that will be available to high school math and science classes this fall.
06/2009
Kids With Attention Problems Still Struggle in High School, Study Finds
A Michigan State University study has found that six-year-olds who don't pay attention well in class apparently struggle throughout their school years, and reach age 17 with lower test scores than their peers. 06/2009
School's Sensory Room a Hit With Disabled Students
The new sensory room at a Florida elementary school is part classroom, part indoor playground. Teachers hope the room will help calm anxious kids and stimulate nonresponsive ones. 06/2009
Skateboarding Joins PE Curriculum
At one Arizona middle school, students put on knee pads, helmets, and elbow pads as they prepare for action. The school's skateboarding program, begun this year, will be expanded to other schools next year. 06/2009
Third-Grader's Parents in Dispute With Schools Over His Food Allergies
One child's parents say the schools are not doing enough to protect their child from dangers posed by the child's allergies. The schools are balking at their request for a one-on-one aide for the child. 06/2009
Reform, Through the Eyes Of New York's Chancellor
New York City school chief Joel Klein explains the more "rational pay system" that should replace schools' "seniority-driven, life-tenure-driven, across-the-board salary-driven model of compensation." 06/2009
Putting Students in a Writing Frame of Mind
The third annual Writers Workshop brought 18 professional writers to one California elementary school. Workshops showed third- through fifth-graders how writing is a skill they will use throughout their lives. 06/2009
MAY 2009
Extra Time Didn't Help Struggling Students
A $100 million plan to improve student achievement at Miami-area schools by implementing a longer school day and school year had very little effect on student test scores, according to a district report. 05/29/2009
Montgomery County Touts 'Seven Keys to College Readiness'
A glossy new brochure offers a tantalizing formula for parents who crave assurance that their children are on track: a seven-step pathway to higher education that starts as early as kindergarten. 05/28/2009
Sony PSPs Find a Place in the Classroom
Some Indiana fourth- and fifth-graders use Sony Portable Play Stations in their classroom to access the Internet, download videos, listen to audio novels, take tests, and broaden their learning.05/27/2009
Chess Making Comeback in U.S. Schools
Over the past few years, chess has taken U.S. schools by storm. "More and more educators see the impact of a chess program on students," says Jerry Nash, of the U.S. Chess Federation. 05/26/2009
Teacher Brings Music to her Classroom
A day doesn't go by in which third-grade teacher Jackie Rogers isn't singing. She gets kids involved in lessons by using songs to energize and motivate her students and as learning tools too. 05/25/2009
House Approves $6.4 Billion for Green Schools
The House passed a bill that provides $6.4 billion in construction money for schools. The goals of the bill are to reduce energy consumption, create healthier schools, and produce jobs. 05/22/2009
iPods Help ESL Students Achieve Success
A New Jersey educator who uses iPods to teach English-language learners says the technology helped 50 percent of students move from an ESL program to an all-English program in a single year.05/21/2009
A Longer School Day, a Smarter Kid?
Extended school day schedules are gaining support among educators and politicians, including President Obama. Opponents point to increased costs as well as the potential for burnout among students. 05/20/2009
A Cautionary Video About America's "Stuff"
"The Story of Stuff," a 20-minute video about the effects of human consumption, has become a sleeper hit among teachers eager to supplement textbooks when teaching about climate change and pollution. 05/19/2009
Budget Outlines Funding for Teacher Merit Pay Programs
President Obama wants to add hundreds of millions for teacher merit pay programs. His plan includes $52 million in grants to open charter schools, and funding to expand education research. 05/18/2009
When the Cellphone Teaches Sex Education
North Carolina's Birds and Bees Text Line, a personalized cellphone-based service, offers teens one-on-one access to information and advice that's private, personal, and anonymous -- -- sex ed on their own turf. 05/15/2009
School IT Support: Overworked and Understaffed
New research suggests that school IT departments are overworked and understaffed, and that they spend too much time reacting to technology problems and not enough time on teacher training and technology integration. 05/14/2009
Before State Exam Time, Children Bust a Rhyme
Music teacher Marcia Grim's students have been writing rap music lyrics as part of a school-wide effort to prepare for state tests. Students performed the songs a few days before the PSSA tests were given. 05/13/2009
Report: Homework Only Helps Older Students
Homework is of little benefit to elementary school students but can be useful for older students as long as it is not simply rote learning, says a Canadian Council on Learning report examining 18 studies on the issue. 05/12/2009
Push is on for National Academic Standards
An effort to establish common academic standards for U.S. schools is gaining momentum. States could see a common set of standards for K-12 math and language arts by the end of this summer. 05/11/2009
Middle School Fitness Lab Inspires Students to Stay Active
A fitness lab is the latest addition to one middle school's physical education program. Students rotate between health class, regular physical education activity, and the fitness lab throughout the school year. 05/08/2009
Task to Aid Self-Esteem Lifts Grades for Some
Researchers report that some seventh graders who were struggling in class did significantly better after doing confidence-building writing exercises. The improvements continued through eighth grade. 05/07/2009
Inadequate Sleep Linked to Behavior Problems
A recent Finnish study found that children who slept less than 7.7 hours a night were more likely than other children to be hyperactive and impulsive, and to score higher on a test of typical ADHD symptoms.
05/06/2009
Schools Use Race-Based Assemblies to Boost Test Scores
Students at some California schools have been attending what organizers call "heritage assemblies." The race-based gatherings are designed to motivate students and close achievement gaps on standardized tests. 05/05/2009
New NAEP Findings Released
New National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results show increases among many of the nation's lowest-performing students, but the achievement gap has barely budged. 05/04/2009
Obama Honors 2009 Teacher of the Year
A special education teacher and former police officer -- America's 2009 National Teacher of the Year -- was honored by President Obama at the White House. 05/01/2009
APRIL 2009
U.S. Schools Close in Swine Flu Scare
More than 100 school systems in 14 states have closed at least one school in response to the swine flu outbreak, sending home more than 160,000 students. That number is expected to rise. 04/30/2009
Schools Crack Down on Unpaid Lunch Tabs
To help reduce the debt caused when parents stopped paying for their children's hot lunches, the Albuquerque school district now offers children with unpaid bills only cheese sandwiches, milk, and a fruit or vegetable.
04/24/09
Student Files Suit to Free Stimulus Funds
A South Carolina high-school senior has filed a lawsuit asking the state's Supreme Court to decide whether the governor or the legislature controls $700 million in federal stimulus money. The student wants funds to go to schools.
04/23/09
Writing About Values Boosts Kids' Performance
Some seventh graders who were struggling in class did significantly better after performing a series of brief confidence-building writing exercises, and the improvements continued through eighth grade, researchers reported.
04/22/09
Study: Hazing Pervades U.S. High Schools
A new study of hazing in U.S. high schools reveals that 47 percent of college freshmen report getting hazed in high school. Hazing activities included silly stunts, drinking games, and physical and sexual assaults.
04/21/09
U.S. Ed Secretary Says Kids Need More Time in School
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said U.S. students are falling behind their peers in other countries because of the traditional school calendar, and the school day and year need to be longer.
04/20/09
Students Learn from Energy-Saving Measures
Many schools in upstate New York have invested in capital projects, such as natural gas-run turbines, which not only help conserve resources, but save the districts money and provide learning opportunities for students.
04/17/09
ALA: Spend Stimulus Money on School Libraries
As school leaders weigh how to spend billions of dollars in federal stimulus money, the American Library Association (ALA) is lobbying to have some of that money used to keep school libraries up to date.
04/16/09
Hundreds of Thousands to Join Day of Silence
Hundreds of thousands of students are expected to mark the 13th annual Day of Silence Friday by taking a form of a vow of silence to protest the harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.
04/15/09
U.K. Weighs Blogging for Grades
Some school officials in the United Kingdom are considering making blogging, tweeting, and podcasting part of the primary school curriculum.
04/14/09
'Fruity Girls' a Hit With Peers
A group of students at Balboa (California) High School known as the Fruity Girls took on the task of distributing fresh fruit for snacks to classmates and teachers.
04/13/09
Parents Sue District Over Son's Suicide
The parents of a 17-year-old boy who committed suicide after constant torment by bullies are suing the Mentor, Ohio, school district claiming teachers and staff members knew about the bullying but failed to take action. 04/10/09
Massive Teacher Retirements Could Mean Shortages
Over the next four years, more than one-third of the nation’s 3.2 million teachers could retire, depriving classrooms of experienced instructors and straining taxpayer-financed retirement systems, a report says.04/09/09
Touch Helps Make the Connection Between Sight and Hearing
Touch helps students learn to read by connecting visual and audio signals, according to a study. Students who combined learning with tactile stimuli learned more efficiently, researchers say.04/08/09
Teacher Lingo Works in Elementary Classrooms
Many elementary teachers use catchy commands to keep order in the classroom. Even if the lingo is nonsense, teachers say, it seems to work. 04/07/09
Social Skills Better Predictors of Future Success Than Test Scores
According to an Illinois professor, high school sophomores who had good social skills and participated in extracurricular activities, made more money and completed higher levels of education than their classmates who had similar test score but were less socially adroit.04/06/09
HISD Offering Combat Pay for Tough Schools
Houston Independent School District is offering $20,000 -- $10,000 annually over the next two years -- to some of its most effective teachers if they commit to a two-year stint at a struggling campus. 04/03/09
Sensory Yard a Hit With Special Needs Students
A New Orleans elementary school's sensory yard aims to help children with autism, ADHD, and other disorders interact more with their environment and prepare them to better focus in the classroom.04/02/09
Most Connecticut Seniors Not Prepared for College
Of more than 8,000 Connecticut students who took the ACT in 2008, just 35 percent of white seniors, 18 percent of Hispanic seniors, and 9 percent of black seniors demonstrated preparedness for college work. 04/01/09
MARCH 2009
Texas Board of Ed Targeted
Proposed bills in the Texas State Legislature would remove the authority of the State Board of Education to adopt textbooks and approve curriculum and transfer that authority to the Texas Education Agency. 03/31/09
Music Education Can Help Improve Reading
A recent study found that children who received keyboard instruction as part of a long-term increasing difficult music curriculum performed significantly better in vocabulary and verbal sequencing than students who did not. 03/30/09
NFL Players Promote Phys Ed
Seven NFL players attended a rally on the Capitol lawn to push for passage of the FIT Kids Act requiring schools to report on students' physical activity, and to give youngsters health and nutritional information. 03/27/09
Teachers and YouTube
Student video recordings of teachers' lectures increasingly are showing up on YouTube, prompting some Connecticut lawmakers to call for research on banning such recording devices in all of the state's classrooms. 03/26/09
IT Support: Overworked and Understaffed
New research suggests overworked and understaffed school IT departments are spending too much time reacting to technology problems--and not enough time on training and integration. 03/25/09
Differentiated Instruction Has Benefits, Challenges
Tailoring lessons to individual students allows more students with special needs to be placed in mainstream classrooms, but the method requires more training, planning time and top classroom-management skills, educators say. 03/24/09
Robot "Sub" Can't Replace Human Instructor
Saya, the robot teacher, can express six basic emotions and say simple preprogrammed phrases, but it still can't do much more than call out names and shout orders like "Be quiet" and it must be remote-controlled by a human watching through a camera. 03/23/09
Twin Cities' Schools Use Yoga to Help Students Learn
Teachers in Minneapolis-St. Paul use yoga to help children improve academic skills, physical fitness, emotional behavior, and stress management. Moving while learning also helps children retain information, proponents say. 03/20/09
School Funding Falls as Mortgage Foreclosures Rise
Falling property values (and lower property taxes), combined with declining student populations as parents move to find new jobs, have forced school systems to trim budgets, freeze hiring. 03/19/09
PETA Stages Circus Protest at Elementary School
Protesters showed up unannounced at a LI elementary school to try to convince youngsters that circuses mistreat animals. The protesters handed out coloring books that read, "Circuses are no fun for animals." 03/18/09
Teachers Use Internet to Find Resources
Teachers say they are more frequently turning to the Internet for creative classroom projects and lessons, and to give students access to educational Web sites for reading and math.03/17/09
Ohio School Gets 700 Applicants for Janitorial Job
Evidence of the slumping economy is stacking up at an Ohio school which has nearly 700 applications for one open janitorial job. Officials extended the deadline to accommodate the overwhelming response.03/16/09
Catholic Schools Convert to Charter Schools
Seven Washington Catholic-turned-charter schools exemplify what is becoming a popular exit strategy for urban parochial schools nationwide.03/13/09
Board of Ed Chairman Challenges Evolution
The Texas State Board of Education Chairman will ask board members to adopt a more critical approach to the teaching of evolution. What the board decides will impact textbook content for the entire country.03/12/09
Studies Support Benefits of Educational TV
Top educational television can prepare young children for reading, according to several new studies. Well-designed programs can teach children distinct skills and cultivate a love of reading. 03/11/09
Teachers Team Up for Space Shuttle Ride
This week's space shuttle flight of Joseph Acaba and Richard Arnold II will mark the first time two former teachers have rocketed into space together. Both will attempt multiple spacewalks during the two-week mission. 03/10/09
Study Says Most First Grade Classes Not High Quality
According to research published in the Elementary School Journal, only 23 percent of first-grade classrooms could be judged to be of "high quality" in both instructional practices and social and emotional climate. 03/09/09
National Standards Gain Support
A growing number of governors and education leaders now support national education standards. Past efforts to introduce national standards or exams have met intense political criticism.03/06/09
Tucson Schools Enhance Learning With the Arts
Students who participated in the brain-based learning program Opening Minds Through the Arts significantly outscored their peers in reading, math, and writing. Teachers excelled at lesson planning and the creative use of learning activities. 03/05/09
Teachers Get MySpace, Google, YouTube Training
San Francisco teachers are meeting with representatives from Google, MySpace, CNET, and YouTube for training on how to bring blogging, podcasting, video, and social networking into their classrooms. 03/04/09
Stand-Up Desks May Improve Attention, Reduce Obesity
Student desks that allow pupils to stand or sit seem to improve student concentration and reduce obesity, say educators. Two studies are examining whether the desks really do improve students' academics or fitness. 03/03/09
Survey Looks at 25 Years of Education Reform
The recently released MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: Past, Present, and Future, reveals that 62 percent of today's teachers are "very satisfied" with their careers, compared to only 40 percent in 1984.
03/02/09
FEBRUARY 2009
Arizona Schools Face Teacher Shortage
With new requirements for high-school math and science, the Arizona DOE projects the state will need an additional 400 math and 250 science teachers a year; 500 more than the state's public universities are currently producing.
02/27/09
Bunkum Awards for Shoddy Educational Research Announced
The Think Tank Review Project, a collaboration of the University of Colorado at Boulder and Arizona State University, has announced the winners of its annual Bunkum awards for shoddy educational research.
02/26/09
Microsoft Explores Educational Link to Video Games
Microsoft has put up $1.5 million to start The Games for Learning Institute. The goal of the Institute's research is to see whether video games can draw students into math, science and techology.
02/25/09
Crafting a New Generation of Assessments
The power of technology to improve assessments lies in its ability to provide useful data not just on what students know, but also on how they arrive at their answers, according to a report by the think tank Education Sector.
02/24/09
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The economic stimulus package allocates more than $100 billion to prevent layoffs in school systems at risk of state and local budget cuts, as well as for expanded college aid and school construction.
02/23/09
Economic Crisis Spurs Finance Classes
More states are considering mandating school courses in finance as personal debt and foreclosures mount, according to the executive director of the JumpStart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.
02/20/09
Kentucky Bill Mandates Parental Involvement
A proposed bill in Kentucky would require all parents, guardians, or custodians to meet with their children's teachers within the first 60 days of the school year or face fines of up to $200.
02/19/09
Student Test Scores Unaffected by Teacher-Training Route
Students whose teachers have been certified through alternative-training programs do no worse in math or reading than students whose teachers have been certified by traditional teacher ed programs.
02/16/09
Video Self-Modeling Helps Autistic Students
According to a pilot program conducted last fall in two Pennsylvania school districts, children with autism may benefit from watching videos of their proper interactions with others.
02/17/09
Scholastic Criticized for Marketing Toys In School-Based Book Clubs
Scholastic Corp. has come under fire from the Boston-based Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood for using its vast network of school-based book clubs to market toys and other non-educational items.
02/16/09
Governor Proposes Consolidating 500 Districts to 100
Pennsylvania's 500 school districts would be consolidated to 100 or fewer under a proposal offered by Gov. Ed Rendell that would also increase total public school funding by 2.8 percent.
02/13/09
Utah District Hires Collections Agency
The Logan City (Utah) School District has hired a collections agency to try to recoup about $70,000 in unpaid student fees from last school year. The total includes $29,000 owed by students who left the district.
02/12/09
ESPN Pitching in to Create Sports-Themed High School
ESPN the Magazine is offering to help the New York City Department of Education create a new high school focusing on the business side of sports. The school is slated to open in September with 81 ninth-grade students.
02/11/09
District Mandates Furloughs
All Fayette County (Georgia) school custodians, secretaries, and office staff must take two unpaid days off before June 30 to offset a projected deficit, officials said.
02/10/09
Corp. Knowingly Sold Tainted Peanut Products to Schools
Peanut Corporation of America sold peanut products to the federal government for a free-lunch program for poor children even as tests showed its products were contaminated with salmonella bacteria.
02/09/09
Top Students Earn Letter Jackets
Students who earn a 4.0 grade point average at Davis High School in Texas receive a wool letter jacket, similar to varsity team jackets. The high school is one of the few to offer letter jackets based on grades alone.
02/06/09
Kids Who Have Recess Behave Better
A study in the February issue of Pediatrics concluded that children who have recess during the day behave better in class. Children learn as much on breaks as they do in the classroom, experts said.
02/05/09
Teachers' Union Urges Test Boycott
The Los Angeles Unified Teachers' Union is calling for a boycott of 'periodic assessments,' saying dropping the tests would save money. But some data shows the tests are helping to boost scores in critical subjects.
02/04/09
District Eliminating Substitutes
Charleston County, South Carolina, school officials plan to eliminate the use of substitute teachers for the remainder of the year to save about a half-million dollars. The district's budget was cut mid-year.
02/03/09
K-12 Online Course Enrollment Jumps
More than a million public school students are enrolled in online classes, notes a report from a group that supports virtual schools. Three of four public schools now offer courses with some online components, researchers found.
02/02/09
JANUARY 2009
Debating Improves Students' Academics
Debate programs are popping up again in public schools, including those in urban areas. Students involved in debate programs show improvement in literacy and graduation rates.
01/30/09
Teachers Contest Random Drug-Testing Proposal
Teachers in Graham County, North Carolina, are awaiting a state appeals court ruling to see if they'll be required to submit to random tests for drugs and alcohol.
01/29/09
Administrators Offer to Forgo Raises
At least 16 principals and other administrators in Florida's Hernando County schools want to forgo planned raises and instead apply the proposed funds to prevent the layoffs of teachers and other school staff.
01/28/09
'Obama Effect' Could Help Minority Students
A performance gap between African-Americans and whites on a 20-question test given before Obama's nomination disappeared when the exam was given after his acceptance speech and again after the presidential election.
01/27/09
U.S. Schools to Share Bailout
U.S. schools could receive nearly $142 billion over the next two years from Congress' $825 billion economic stimulus plan. But in return for the money, schools must meet certain criteria, such as creating high-quality educational tests.
01/26/09
Budget Cuts Spur Moms to Go On Hunger Strike
Drastic budget cuts in the Miami-Dade County, Florida, school budget spurred two mothers to go on a hunger strike. The two want school district leaders and state officials to recognize their concerns that the school system is underfunded.
01/23/09
Court: Sex Between Teachers, 18-Year-Olds OK
Washington state law does not bar teachers from having consensual sex with 18-year-old students, an appeals court ruled Tuesday in dismissing a case against a former high school choir teacher.
01/22/09
Internet Free Speech Ruling Favors School Administrators
In a key ruling on Internet free speech, a federal judge has found that Connecticut school officials were within their rights when they disciplined a high school student over an insulting blog post she wrote off school grounds.
01/21/09
Teacher: Time to Expel Huck Finn
John Foley, a high school English teacher in Portland, Oregon, wrote in a newspaper column that he thinks it is time to drop The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the curriculum because of the racist language and students don't find it engaging.
01/20/09
School Leaders: Where's Our Bailout?
Officials at a few hard-pressed school systems are asking for a share of the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, intended for ailing financial institutions, and the economic stimulus package now before Congress.
01/19/09
Early Academic Struggles Could Breed Depression
Students, particularly girls, who struggle with reading and math in first grade are at risk of developing poor self-perception and depression symptoms in middle school, according to University of Missouri researchers.
01/16/09
State Law Protects Newspaper Advisors
A new California state law, the Journalism Teacher Protection Act, prohibits school administrators from retaliating against student newspaper advisors for trying to protect student press freedoms.
01/15/09
Teachers Use Blogs to Connect With Students, Parents
Teachers in some Texas school districts are using their own blogs on school Web sites to reach out to students and parents. Teacher blog entries include instructions, assignments, and anecdotes.
01/14/09
At Least 2,300 Teachers Could Lose Jobs
A $250 million midyear shortfall in the Los Angeles Unified School District's budget may force school officials to lay off as many 2,300 teachers in the next few months.
01/13/09
Home-Schooling Numbers Increase
The number of parents home-schooling their children continues to increase, and while religion remains the primary reason for many families, factors such as concern about narrowed curriculum also are playing a role.
01/12/09
For Some, Cursive Still 'Write' of Passage
Despite pressures from No Child Left Behind and state testing, some teachers still find time to teach cursive writing, since even in a digital age students must sign their names.
01/09/09
Professor Argues Cell Phones Are Educational
While many schools ban student cell-phone use, teachers can use phones to supplement their lessons, said Liz Kolb, an adjunct professor at Madonna University in Michigan and author of a book on cell-phone projects.
01/08/09
Parents to Try State's High-Stakes Test
The Plainville, Connecticut, school board is inviting parents to take a mock exam with questions from the Connecticut Mastery Test and Connecticut Academic Performance Test so they better understand what their children face in class.
01/07/09
Student Troublemaker Who Made Good Honors Disciplinarian
More than 20 years after Elgin (Illinois) Academy's discipline dean James Lyons saved James J. Liautaud from expulsion, Liautaud donated $1 million to the school for a new building and insisted it be named for Lyons as well as himself.
01/06/09
Schools Melding Alternative Energy into Lesson Plans
Students at Michigan's St. Clair County RESA Career Technical Center are learning about alternative energy by calculating actual energy outputs from school-owned windmills, solar panels, and a hydroelectric plant.
01/05/09
Chicago Schools' CEO Named Secretary of Education
Chicago Public Schools' CEO Arne Duncan's experience in consensus-building and compromise are among the reasons president-elect Barack Obama chose Duncan for Secretary of Education, some say.
01/02/09
Schools Keep Cafeterias Open During Break
Concerned that needy children would have no place to eat over the holiday break, North College Hill School District in Ohio kept its cafeterias open during the vacation so children would have hot lunches.
01/01/09
EDscoops 2008
School Shooter: 'I Didn't Realize' They Would Die
Evan Ramsey, 20, serving a 210-year prison sentence for a 1997 fatal shooting spree at his Alaska high school, claims at the time he couldn't discern fantasy from reality. "I didn't realize that you shoot somebody, they die."
12/18/08
School Enforcing 'Dirty Dancing' Ban With Orientation, Contracts
Fed up with sexully-suggestive moves at student dances, Prairie High School's (Vancouver, Washington,) principal now requires students to attend an orientation and sign a contract to attend dances.
12/17/08
Almost 10,000 Teachers Earn National Certification
For the second straight year, the number of new National Board Certified Teachers broke a record -- 9,600 teachers earned national certification in 2008, an increase of 12 percent from 2007.
12/16/08
U.S. Students Show Progress in Math, Science
U.S. fourth and eighth grade students generally rank at least in the top one-third compared to other countries in mathematics, according to the 2007 report of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).
12/15/08
Budget Cuts Could Mean Bigger Classes
A survey of more than 800 districts by the American Association of School Administrators found that 36 percent of districts have increased class sizes because of the economic downturn.
12/12/08
District Launches Hotline for Hispanic Parents
In an effort to reach out to Hispanic parents, the New Haven, (Connecticut), school district launched a hotline with a Spanish-speaking liaison to help parents navigate the school system.
12/11/08
School Employees Disciplined Over Facebook Postings
Seven Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' faculty members have been disciplined in connection with postings on their Facebook pages. An after-school program staff member was fired, and one teacher may face dismissal.
12/10/08
Survey Raises Questions About Teen Ethics
In the last year, more than 64 percent of students have cheated on a test and 30 percent have stolen from a store, indicates a survey of 30,000 U.S. high school students. Yet, 93 percent are satisfied with their ethics and character.
12/09/08
Teacher Sells Ads on Tests to Cover Printing Costs
After the Poway (California) Unified School District cut funds for printing, Rancho Bernardo High School calculus teacher Tom Farber began selling ads on his tests to cover his printing expenses.
12/08/08
Drop-Out Warning Signs Surface by Middle School
Middle-schoolers who fail a single math or reading class are much more prone to drop out of high school than those who do well, noted a recent study in Colorado. Struggling students as young as 11 should be monitored.
12/05/08
Students Convince Board to Rename School for Obama
Students at the former Ludlum Elementary School in Hempstead, New York, convinced the school board to rename their school after president-elect Barack Obama. The change took effect November 21.
12/04/08
Brain Abnormalities Tied to ADHD
Boys with ADHD have minor brain abnormalities that may help scientists better understand the disorder, according to a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.12/03/08
More Parents Want Twins in Same Class
More parents are pushing to overrule principals' long-standing practice of separating twins in school. Nine states have laws requiring public schools to respect parents' requests on classroom placement.
12/02/08
State to Require Online Course to Graduate
Next year, all high-school students in Alabama will be required to take and pass an online course in order to graduate. A growing number of students in Alabama already are learning online.
12/01/08
Feds Say No to New Testing System
The federal government will not waive NCLB requirements to let two Utah school districts give computer adaptive tests several times a year instead of Criterion Referenced Tests.
11/26/08
Schools Showing Latino Parents How to Get Involved
Garland, Texas, school officials this year began a series of workshops for Hispanic parents of children in bilingual education. Bilingual teachers show parents test-taking strategies and how to work with kids at home.
11/25/08
States to Pilot High-School Reforms
Three states - Massachusetts, Utah, and New Hampshire - have agreed to pioneer some high-school reform proposals from the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce aimed at better preparing students for college and employment.
11/24/08
Gates Foundation to Tackle Teacher Quality, H.S. Graduation Rates
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation plans to focus now on improving teacher quality, creating national high-school learning standards, and improving the college acceptance and retention rate for disadvantaged students. 11/21/08
K-8 Students Could Flock to Online Schools
Thousands of Florida K-8 students could abandon public schools next year in favor of online classes. A state law taking effect next fall requires every district to set up an online school for K-8 students.
11/20/08
District Drops Zeros for Elementary Students
The lowest grade elementary students in the Collier County (Florida) district now can receive on an assignment is 50 rather than zero. School officials say zeros are punitive and rarely reflect a student's overall abilities.
11/19/08
Who Will be the Next Education Secretary?
Speculation has begun about who President-elect Barack Obama will name as his secretary of education. Eight of the previous nine education secretaries had backgrounds in elementary and secondary education.
11/18/08
New Copyright Guide Available for Teachers
To help teachers understand when they can use copyrighted materials without permission or paying a fee, several organizations have prepared the "Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Media Literacy Education" for teachers. 11/17/08
Solar Panels Could Provide Schools With Cheap Power
Solar panels placed on the roofs of school buildings by private businesses may allow four Arizona school districts to buy their electricity at a discount. The businesses would pay to install the panels.
11/14/08
School District to Build Housing for Teachers
The Los Angeles (California) Unified School District is looking to develop low-cost apartments on as many as 12 campuses in an effort to help teachers find less expensive housing and live closer to their jobs.
11/13/08
Experts Worry About Impact of Student Rewards
Cash incentives for students to improve grades and/or test scores may work better when instructors are rewarded as well, some reports indicate. Some education experts, though, worry what will happen to students' motivation when the rewards stop coming.
11/12/08
More Teachers Using Sick Leave for Reasons Other than Illness
A new analysis of a district's teacher-absence pattern suggests more teachers are dipping into their sick time in order to take care of errands, do the holiday shopping, or extend a weekend.
11/10/08
Students Form Bank to Help Latin American Women
Seventy students at The Meadows School in Las Vegas, Nevada, have raised about $25,000 and formed The Meadows School MicroBank, which will loan money to needy Latin American women seeking to start their own businesses.
11/07/08
Small City Districts to Sue State for More Aid
A group of smaller city school districts in New York said it will sue the state for more funding, similar to the way New York City schools sued to get billions of dollars more in operating and capital funds.
11/06/08
District Cuts Night Lights to Save Money
officials in the Wachusett (Massachusetts) Regional School District plan to shut off all lights in buildings, parking lots, and athletic fields from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. to save money and energy.
11/05/08
Poor Vision Could Be Source of Homework Problems
A common yet often missed vision problem called convergence insufficiency, which prevents the eyes from turning together properly to read, could be the cause of reading problems in as many as one out 20 children.
11/04/08
Dept. of Ed. Announces New Rules to Decrease Dropout Rates
U.S. schools and states now must track and lift the graduation rates for all students, including minorities and students with disabilities, under new regulations announced by the U.S. Department of Education.
11/03/08
77 Percent of Teachers Assign Internet-Related Homework
More than three in four K-12 teachers say they or a colleague assigns homework that requires students to use the Internet, according to a recent study conducted for Cable in the Classroom.
10/31/08
Parents Lobby for Insurance Coverage for Autism
Many parents of children with autism are lobbying their state legislatures to require health insurance companies to cover more of the costs of services for autistic children.
10/30/08
NCLB Puts Science Back in Focus
The No Child Left Behind Act mandate to start testing students in science last year is sparking a resurgence in science instruction, after years of minimal or no science instruction in many schools.
10/29/08
Parents Are Key to Dropout Prevention
Schools need to keep parents informed and involved to help reduce the high-school drop-out rate, a study said. Fewer than half of parents of students in low-performing high schools said they were kept up-to-date on their child's progress.
10/28/08
Deaf Students Leading Cheers
Three students who are deaf have joined the cheerleading squad at Francis Howell North High School in Missouri. The students are able to follow the cheers by reading lips and watching an interpreter using sign language.
10/27/08
Wind Power Comes to Schools
A program called Wind for Schools is aiming to bring smaller turbines to six states with a mission of educating students and the community about wind power.
10/24/08
Experts Question Benefits of Time-Out Rooms
Some educators say time-out rooms are being used with increased frequency to discipline children with behavioral disorders. And the time outs are probably doing more harm than good, they add.
10/23/08
More Title I Schools in Restructuring
The number of Title I schools in the restructuring phase of school improvement under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) has increased by 56 percent since the 2006-07 school year, according to a study by the Center on Education Policy (CEP).
10/22/08
Students Anonymously Report Bullying Online
Six Utah schools have introduced a Web site that allows students to anonymously report bullies, so kids can avoid being labeled snitches or suffering in silence. Students also can post information about other issues.
10/21/08
Students Note Hazards on Their Route to School
Fifth graders from Garfield Elementary School in Santa Ana, California, joined by teachers and public health officials, walked their route to school with checklists and notepads to record conditions that made them feel at risk or uncomfortable.
10/20/08
Stand-Up Desks Steady Fidgety Students
Some schools have discovered that adjustable-height, stand-up desks and big, tall tables that let students work in groups while standing and shifting their weight, leaning, and stretching are improving student attentiveness.
10/17/08
Students Learn in 'Education Garden'
More than 1,000 Massachusetts students are helping prepare the soil, plant, and harvest herbs and vegetables in an "education garden." Crops included herbs, rainbow kale, beans, potatoes, pumpkins, and the occasional tomato. 10/16/08
District Mulls Selling Bonds to Pay Retiree Benefits
The Moorhead (Minnesota) School District is considering the sale of about $10 million worth of bonds to finance skyrocketing retirement benefit costs. The state allows schools and local governments to bond for retiree health insurance costs without taxpayers' approval.
10/15/08
Students No Longer Surpassing Parents' Education Levels
The American tradition of younger generations exceeding their parents' education level is at a standstill, according to a report by the American Council on Education.
10/14/08
Nearly 9 Out of 10 LGBT Students Face Harassment
The 2007 National School Climate Survey conducted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) found that nearly 9 out of 10 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students experienced harassment at school in the past year.
10/13/08
Teachers Give F to New Grading Policy
Teachers and parents in Dallas, Texas, are complaining about new grading policies that they say lower standards and expectations. One policy allows a student who fails a test to retake it, and then drop the lower score.
10/10/08
Boys Benefit from Male Teachers
Boys who have a male elementary school teacher tend to perform better in school, British researchers say. About half of 1,000 men surveyed cited male elementary school teachers as having had the most impact on them during their school life.
10/09/08
Students Call for More Options to Earn H.S. Diploma
Students from Michigan Youth in Government have called for changes in the state's tough new graduation requirements, to give teens more options for earning a diploma based on their post-graduate plans.
10/08/08
Urban Districts Struggle to Retain Superintendents
Despite good salaries and ample perks, one study notes that the average urban U.S. superintendent stays on the job only about three years -- which educators say isn't enough time to enact meaningful, long-lasting reform.
10/07/08
Study: Many Teachers Lack Sleep
About 43 percent of teachers said in a recent study that they slept an average of six hours or fewer per night, while half admitted to missing work or making errors due to a "serious lack of sleep."
10/06/08
Male First-Grade Teacher Shares Love of Baseball, Books
Illinois first-grade teacher Jeremy Melick, the son of two educators and husband to another, is the only male teacher most of his students will have until they reach the seventh grade. He's also a top teacher, his principal said.
10/03/08
Magazine Names Healthiest U.S. Schools Health magazine recently named the healthiest schools in the U.S. after rating schools based on food and nutrition, fitness and activity, health education, and healthy building materials and practices.
10/02/08
Isn't It Time for Financial-Literacy Lessons?
Why isn't teaching personal finance basics considered more important than trigonometry, which few of us will ever use again, asks financial-literacy expert Braun Mincher.
10/01/08
Schools' Chief: Find Those Dropouts
In a new effort to re-enroll dropouts, Baltimore's school chief Andres Alonso has directed the city's high schools to track down the 925 students who have dropped out since January and urge them to return to school. School administrators must make home visits.
09/30/08
Report Questions Effectiveness of Reading Coaches
While a new report from the Rand Corporation shows middle school reading coaches in Florida help teachers and boost student motivation to read, the study offers no clear data on coaches' overall effectiveness in raising student test scores.
09/29/08
State Adopts Chess Instruction
As part of an effort to increase math and reading skills, all second and third graders in Idaho are learning to play chess. The state's Department of Education has invested $120,000 into the project.
09/26/08
Students Protest Backpack Ban
Dozens of students staged a sit-in at Marshwood High School in Maine to protest a school policy that prohibits the use of backpacks during school hours. School officials said the ban would remain in place.
09/25/08
Superintendent Cuts Salary to Help District
The Little Miami (Ohio) School District superintendent, Dan Bennett, is donating 1 percent of his salary ($1,180.14) to the district to help persuade voters to approve an annual 1 percent earned income tax.
09/24/08
AFT Announces Reform Effort
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has launched the AFT Innovation Fund, a plan to support sustainable, innovative, and collaborative reform projects developed by AFT members to strengthen public schools.
09/23/08
Younger, Minority Students Doing Better
One-third of fourth- and eighth-graders were capable of reading and doing math at grade level last year compared with one in four in 2000, according to data from the U.S. Education Department.
09/22/08
Math Lessons Outside of Class Aid Understanding
A new math program in Michigan is designed to improve math achievement among struggling students by having them work on problems in real-world settings. Teachers gain new skills as well.
09/19/08
Businesses Urged Not to Hire Dropouts
Companies in Alberta, Canada, should stop hiring high school dropouts to encourage students to get their diploma, Alberta Education Minister Dave Hancock told Calgary business leaders.
09/18/08
More Incentives Needed to Recruit Teachers
While more than 40 percent of surveyed adults with bachelor's degrees say they are interested in becoming teachers, two recent reports conclude that higher salaries, incentives, and stronger preparation programs are needed to entice people.
09/17/08
Schools Urged to Restore Playground Games
Traditional outdoor games such as tag and British Bulldog may be returning to British school playgrounds at the urging of government officials, who say the games can help combat childhood obesity.
09/16/08
'Number Sense' Helps With Math
Scientists have for the first time established a link between a primitive, intuitive sense of numbers and performance in math classes, a finding that could lead to new ways to help children who struggle with math.
09/15/08
Georgia Schools' Chief Wins $1 Million on Quiz Show
Georgia state school superintendent Kathy Cox won $1 million on the game show "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" and plans to donate most of the money to state schools for the deaf and blind. Some state officials are criticizing Cox for appearing on the show. 09/12/08
Middle Schoolers Can Earn Cash for Grades, Conduct
Some middle-school students in the Washington, D.C., public schools will be able to earn cash this year for good grades, behavior, and attendance. Students could receive as much as $100 a month.
09/11/08
Researcher Studying Cheating Epidemic
University of Connecticut assistant professor Jason Stephens is piloting a program at six schools to deter cheating by letting teachers and students develop academic integrity plans.
09/10/08
Kindergarten Teacher's First Lesson: Try Hard
First-time kindergarten teacher Darin Peets, who is a quadriplegic, told his young students they need to try new things before asking for his help. Peets previously taught older students.
09/09/08
Stressed Teachers Get 24-Hour Helpline
Scottish teachers who are feeling overwhelmed now can call a free, 24-hour teacher helpline staffed by trained counselors to receive emotional and practical support. Teachers also can request coaching via e-mail.
09/08/08
Mistrust of Male Elementary Teachers Remains
While teachers' unions and other educators have called for more men to enter teaching, male elementary-level teachers often are mistrusted by some parents who are suspicious of men who want to teach young children.
09/05/08
School Bans Homework, Calling it 'Unfair'
The principal of Prince of Wales Public School in Barrie, Ontario, has banned homework, saying it is unfair to many of the school's students who don't have the resources or parental help at home to complete projects.
09/04/08
Outdoor Educators Seek More Funding
Outdoor and environmental educators across the U.S. are putting pressure on Congress and their state lawmakers to add more funding to state and federal budgets for nature learning to get more kids outside.
09/03/08
Students Explore Career Options at Mayo Clinic
A pilot partnership between the Rochester, Minnesota, Mayo Clinic and an area high school aims to allow struggling teens to explore health and science jobs and develop career goals.
09/02/08
Cell Phone Use Banned Near School
West University Place, Texas, has banned all use of cell phones by drivers within three blocks of its elementary school during school hours. School officials feared distracted drivers could put kids at risk.
08/29/08
Group Distributes School Supplies to Needy Kids
Kids R First, a non-profit group founded by retired teachers, collected school supplies for more than 14,000 needy Virginia students this year. The group finds out exactly what students need before buying materials.
08/28/08
Student-Fueled Effort for More Rigor Falls Short
A student-supported push that began in 2005 to get the Los Angeles school district to ensure that every area high school student had access to college-prep courses by 2006 has fallen short of its goal.
08/27/08
Governor Calls for Legal Protection for Teachers
The governor of Indiana said he wants to give teachers immunity from lawsuits for making good faith efforts to maintain discipline and order, such as restraining a student involved in a fight.
08/26/08
Council to Advise on NCLB Issues
The U.S. Department of Education appointed 16 members to the National Technical Advisory Council, which will advise the department on state standards, assessments, and accountability systems.
08/25/08
Town Allows Teachers to Carry Guns
The Harrold (Texas) Independent School District may be the first in the nation to allow teachers and staff members to carry concealed firearms for protection when classes begin for this school year.
08/22/08
Educators Paying to Stock Classrooms
Severe budget cuts in the Clark County, Nevada, district have led to teachers spending more of their own money on classroom supplies. Some teachers expect to spend about $100 a month on supplies.
08/21/08
200,000-Plus Kids Spanked/Paddled at School
More than 200,000 children were spanked or paddled in U.S. schools during the past school year, reports a human rights group. Corporal punishment in schools is legal in 21 U.S. states and used frequently in 13.
08/20/08
Districts Pool Funds for Teacher Training
Three south San Antonio (Texas) school districts shared the cost of bringing summer training sessions to teachers. Educators who attended the training met new people and the districts saved money.
08/19/08
Are Laptops Improving Student Learning?
Since Maine began supplying laptops to middle-schoolers in 2002, attendance has improved and students have shown more enthusiasm for schoolwork. But student scores on most state tests have not changed significantly.
08/18/08
Principal Spends Summer Visiting Students
Armed with maps and back-to-school information and aboard a scooter, Saghalie (Federal Way, Washington) Middle School principal Damon Hunter visited the home of every one of his 600 students this summer.
08/15/08
Students More Open to Life Lessons from Trusted Teachers
When it comes to delivering lessons on sensitive subjects such as sexually-transmitted diseases and pregnancy prevention, the message has more impact on students when it comes from a teacher they trust, a study says.
08/14/08
Rodeo Clown Creates Anti-Bullying Program
Marvin Nash, a professional rodeo clown for 30 years in Wyoming, and his wife, developed a bullying prevention program for schools called "Bullying Hurts." Older students teach younger ones how to deal with bullies. 08/13/08
Teachers, Parents Question Summer Assignments
As the new school year looms, many students are rushing to finish all their summer assignments, causing some parents and educators to question whether such projects stress out students badly in need of a break.
08/12/08
Grants to Help Special Ed Teachers Meet NCLB Standards
Twenty U.S. universities are slated to receive federal funding to expand preparation programs for special educators. The grants are for training programs to help special ed teachers meet NCLB "highly qualified" standards. 08/11/08
Double Dutch Gains Varsity Status
Starting in the spring of 2009, double dutch, a form of jumping rope popular in urban areas, is slated to become the New York City Public Schools' newest varsity sport.
08/08/08
Students Who Break Dress Code Get Jumpsuits
Starting in the fall, students at Gonzales High School in Texas who ignore the school's dress code will be sentenced to wearing a blue prison-style jumpsuit for the rest of the school day.
08/07/08
Energy Costs Spurring Green-School Construction
School districts that in the past thought constructing green schools would be too expensive now are embracing the idea as a way to save on energy costs and have more healthful school environments.
08/06/08
Is Online Reading Real Reading?
While some educators and policy makers argue that too much time surfing the net is causing children's reading skills to decline, others say the time has come to recognize the value of online reading.
08/05/08
Girls Doing as Well in Math as Boys
A study recently published in the journal Science disputes the notion that girls don't do as well in math as boys. The study data showed only a small gap in boys' and girls' math performance.
08/04/08
Mentoring Program Exposes H.S. Students to College Science
Connecticut high-school students are getting a taste of college science and other subjects through Mentor Connection, a three-week session that matches high school students with University of Connecticut researchers.
08/01/08
New School Buses Run on Propane
A San Antonio, Texas-area school district has unveiled new classic-yellow school buses that officials say are the first in the U.S. manufactured to run on propane.
07/31/08
Working With Hands Helps Brain Development
British children's brain development is being threatened by their failure to work with their hands in school and at home, a study said. Schools offer fewer hands-on classes, and at home kids play computer games.
07/30/08
State Calls NCLB Goals Unrealistic
While more Hawaiian students scored higher on standardized tests this year, 60 percent of public schools failed to make adequate yearly progress due to what education officials called unrealistic NCLB expectations.
07/29/08
Multiple Military Deployments Stressful for Children
With more children of military personnel showing signs of stress as parents are deployed multiple times to war zones, schools are increasing efforts to provide support for the children of servicemen and women.
07/28/08
School District Approves Paddling Students
Starting in the fall, principals in Twiggs County, Georgia, will be able to paddle students who don't respond to detention or other forms of discipline, reaffirming a policy that had lain dormant in the county since 2006.
07/25/08
Students Taking Lead in Green Initiatives
Increasing numbers of environmentally-aware students are leading green initiatives at their schools. A graduate of a Virginia high school got approval for solar panels and raised money for the project.
07/23/08
Grants Aim to Help Middle-Schoolers Prep for College
The U.S. Department of Education approved 24 new grants for the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) to help disadvantaged middle school students prepare for and pursue a college education.
07/22/08
Students Discuss Asian, Hispanic Students' Performance
Students at Lincoln High School in California have participated in candid discussions about the differences in Hispanic and Asian-American students' academic performance in an effort to close the achievement gap.
07/21/08
Parents Secretly Teaching Kids 'Old' Math
Concerned that their children are missing out on certain critical skills, some parents are teaching their children "old" math procedures -- such as long division -- to supplement new, concept-based curricula. 07/18/08
Summer Program Cuts Hurt Gifted, Remedial Students
Remedial and enrichment summer classes are being eliminated around the country as school districts try to reduce costs and struggle to balance budgets in a tight economy.
07/17/08
Good Nutrition Linked to Better Test Performance
Learners with access to a more nutritious diet in early childhood may score higher on intellectual tests in adulthood, regardless of how much education they received overall, according to new data.
07/16/08
ALA to Study Gaming Impact on Literacy
The American Library Association (ALA) is planning a study to track and measure the impact of gaming on literacy skills. ALA plans to monitor the results of gaming initiatives.
07/15/08
Teachers Sign On for 'Geek' Training
More than 50 Oklahoma teachers participated in a week of work with GEEK SMART, a professional development program that helps educators learn to integrate hands-on math and science lessons.
07/14/08
Failure No Option for Middle-Schoolers
Starting this fall, Florida will require all students to pass their core subjects in middle school in order to be promoted to the ninth grade. Failing students receive remedial help during the year or attend summer school.
07/11/08
Virtual PE Fits Many Students' Needs
Hundreds of teens in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, area are enrolled in online gym classes. Students study sports and fitness, but are expected to practice what they learn. Physical activity is completed on an honor system.
07/10/08
Teachers Could Swap Tenure for Higher Pay
D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee is proposing giving mid-level teachers who are paid $62,000 yearly the opportunity to earn more than $100,000 -- but they would have to give up seniority and tenure rights.
07/09/08
Some See School Day-Care, Teen Pregnancy Link
Some educators and social service workers have raised concerns that the presence of day-care centers in high schools sends the message to girls that teen pregnancy is acceptable. Others call for increased sex education.
07/08/08
Study: PE No Cure for Obesity
Increasing the volume and frequency of physical education classes can improve kids' bone mineral density, aerobic capacity, blood pressure, and flexibility, but has no effect on childhood obesity, a study says.
07/07/08
The Ordeal of Trying to Fire Bad Tenured Teachers
The mounting legal costs and years of effort needed to dismiss bad tenured teachers -- even those who have broken the law -- forces many administrators to tolerate poor teacher performance, some experts say.
07/03/08
School Districts Root Out Energy 'Hogs'
Texas school administrators are scouring their districts to find ways to save energy to meet a state mandate to reduce energy consumption 5 percent each year from now through 2013. Some districts already have energy plans.
07/02/08
Study: Children Still Love Books
Despite their interest in all things digital, children between the ages of 5 and 17 still want to read books, a study says. The study also noted that the amount of time kids spend reading for fun declines after age 8.
07/01/08
Parents Want to See More Math Instruction
More than one-third of U.S. parents said in an AP poll that they want their children to receive more math instruction in school. A majority also said schools are doing just a fair job in preparing children for the work force.
06/30/08
Study: Test Scores Up Under NCLB
Students are performing better on state reading and math tests and the achievement gap has narrowed since enactment of the federal No Child Left Behind law six years ago, according to an independent study.
06/27/08
Are Eighth-Grade Graduation Celebrations Going Overboard?
Some educators are starting to wonder if eighth-grade graduation celebrations -- which can include dances, trips, dinners, and awards ceremonies over the course of several weeks -- are becoming excessive.
06/26/08
New Data Shows Gains for Reading First Students
State data shows gains for Reading First students in nearly every grade and subgroup, including English language learners and students with disabilities, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
06/25/08
Students Charged With Loading Spyware, Changing Grades
Two Orange County, California, teenagers have been charged with breaking into high school offices and using stolen usernames and passwords to change lackluster grades to A's. The two are facing jail time if convicted.
06/24/08
Children Read Better After Brains 'Rewired'
An intensive reading program conducted three years ago in 50 Allegheny County (Pennsylvania) schools permanently "rewired" the brains of dyslexic children, Carnegie Mellon University researchers reported. 06/23/08
College Board: SAT Writing Section Fails to Meet Expectations
The writing section added to the SAT three years ago has done little to improve the exam's overall ability to predict how students will do in college, according to research released by the College Board, the test's owner.
06/20/08
Teachers Not 'LOL' Over Text Shortcuts
Many teachers are seeing the abbreviations used in text messaging in student papers, tests, and other assignments, and say students also are ignoring spelling and punctuation in their written schoolwork.
06/19/08
Group Seeks Uniform Allergy Policies for U.S. Schools
The nonprofit Food Allergies & Anaphylaxis Network is pushing for a federal law to create uniform guidelines for schools to follow to protect the estimated 2 million U.S. school-age children with food allergies. 06/18/08
Board-Certified Teachers Boost Scores
Students taught by educators certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards make bigger gains on standardized tests than students taught by other teachers, according to a study.
06/17/08
Actor Pays for First Interracial Prom
Charleston (Mississippi) High School held its first interracial prom this year, paid for by actor Morgan Freeman. In the past, white and African-American students attended separate, privately-funded proms.
06/16/08
Interest Grows in Peer Review for Teachers
The teachers' union in Toledo, Ohio, has spearheaded a peer review policy to purge the district of incompetent teachers. The practice has withstood three lawsuits and union members overwhelmingly support it.
06/13/08
Study: Exercise Helps Raise Test Scores
Studies by Ontario, Canada, researchers indicate that schools that stress fitness and nutrition have seen their standardized scores rise by as much as 50 per cent over two years in third grade.
06/12/08
Teachers React to Dress Code Memo
Annoyed by teachers who "dressed down," the Wyandanch, New York, superintendent fired off a memo saying teachers should dress like they are working with children, not cows and horses. The union reacted sharply. 06/11/08
School Goes Extra Mile to Help Poor Kids Learn
Sherrie Gahn, principal of Whitney Elementary School in East Las Vegas, Nevada, has made it her mission to ensure her students get what they need to help them learn -- including food, clothes, eyeglasses, and haircuts.
06/10/08
Poll: Male Involvement at Schools on the Rise
A National PTA poll shows that more men are involved in their children's education than ever before. Almost 50 percent of parent leaders said that the level of male involvement has grown at their PTA in the last three years.
06/09/08
Students, Teachers Protest Gas Prices
Hundreds of students, faculty, and staff at Sayville (New York) High School left their cars at home Wednesday and found alternate means of transportation to school to protest rising gas prices.
06/06/08
Districts Receive Funds for Emergency Planning
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $24 million in grants to 92 school districts in 34 states to help them update and improve their readiness and emergency management plans.
06/05/08
High Schools, Parents Raise Concerns About 'Beach Week' Parties
The high-school graduation ritual in some communities of teens partying at a beach for a week after school ends, and often drinking excessively, is raising concerns among parents and educators.
06/04/08
State Asks for "Fresh Start" on NCLB
Idaho's State Board of Education has asked the U.S. Department of Education to wipe away the student progress measurements for 2002-2006 for hundreds of schools now facing sanctions under No Child Left Behind.
06/03/08
States Wrestle With School Bus Fuel Costs
The soaring cost of fuel for school buses is forcing some school districts to reduce the number of field trips, cut the school week down to four days, and even eliminate bus transportation for some students.
06/02/08
Poor Hearing Can Be Behind School Problems
Hearing problems may be the cause of some children's poor academic performance or misbehavior in school, according to some experts. Children who have difficulty hearing often appear inattentive and restless.
05/30/08
Schools Requiring Students to Take Lunch Break
In some high schools where students are trying to pack Advanced Placement courses into every spare moment of the day, school administrators are tweaking schedules to allow all students a lunch break.
05/29/08
Bill to Shield PE, Music, Arts from Cuts Vetoed
Arizona's governor vetoed a measure intended to protect gym classes and instruction in music and the arts from K-12 budget cuts. The governor noted that school boards decide which programs are cut.
05/28/08
Free Summer Classes Draw Thousands
Students in British Columbia, Canada, are registering for summer school in droves because the province is paying for classes ranging from math and science to music, sports, speed reading, and digital media.
05/27/08
Proposed Teacher Contract Would End Seniority
The Washington (D.C.) Teachers' Union is reviewing a proposed three-year contract from the school system that would eliminate seniority, giving the schools' chancellor more control in filling vacancies.
05/26/08
Study: 'Crisis' in Boys' Education Overblown
The idea that school systems favor girls at boys' expense and there is a crisis in boys' school performance is overblown, according to a study by the American Association of University Women.
05/23/08
Tight Budgets Mean Fewer Field Trips
At a time when school budgets are shrinking, gas prices rising, and there is an increased emphasis on standardized testing, class visits to science centers, museums, and zoos are becoming increasingly rare.
05/22/08
Debate Grows on Grade-System Reform
U.S. education experts and school administrators are trying to determine how and whether to reform grading systems to give failing students a better chance to catch up. Some advocate a minimum grade of 50.
05/21/08
Virtual Schools Show Strong Growth
A report predicts that as many as half of all courses in grades 9 to 12 could be taught online by 2019, prompting calls for more oversight of virtual schools. Last year enrollment in online classes reached 1 million.
05/20/08
Teachers Agree: Firing Bad Teachers Is Tough
More than half of teachers believe it's too difficult to weed out ineffective teachers who have tenure, and nearly half say they personally know such a teacher, according to a survey.
05/19/08
Registration Open for Dept. of Ed Summer Workshops
The U.S. Department of Education is sponsoring free summer workshops where teachers share successful strategies with other educators to raise student achievement. The workshops are being held in 12 cities.
05/16/08
School Uses Electronic Monitoring to Curb Truancy
Rather than send chronic truants to juvenile detention, a high school in East Dallas, Texas, is using electronic monitoring devices to make sure students arrive at school on time and remain there throughout the day.
05/15/08
Teachers Must Prove They Can Teach Reading
Aspiring early childhood and elementary school teachers in Connecticut will have to prove they know how to teach reading on a test the State Board of Education has added to Connecticut's teacher certification requirements.
05/14/08
Woman Donates Kidney to Former Teacher
Darren Paquin, an English teacher at Elwood (Indiana) Community High School, received a special gift from former student Angie Collins: a kidney. Paquin was suffering from kidney failure.
05/13/08
Amount of K-5 Physical Activity Doubles
The Oklahoma state senate passed a bill increasing the amount of required physical activity time for students in grades K-5 from 60 minutes a week to 120 minutes a week.
05/12/08
Students Want to Learn With Gaming Technology
Educational gaming is one of the emerging technologies that students would most like to see in their schools, according to a Project Tomorrow survey. Yet, only one in ten teachers has adopted gaming as an instructional tool.
05/09/08
State Weighs Anti-Bulling Law
Florida lawmakers are weighing an anti-bullying bill that would prohibit bullying or harassment of any student or school system employee for any reason. Districts could identify groups of students in need of protection.
05/08/08
Teachers' Risque Online Profiles Pose Dilemma for Schools
Some school administrators are wondering what, if anything, they can or should do about racy material some young teachers post on their personal profiles on online social networking sites.
05/07/08
Reading First Not Improving Scores
Students enrolled in the $6 billion federal Reading First program that is at the heart of the No Child Left Behind Act are not reading any better than those who don't participate, according to a U.S. government report.
05/06/08
Districts Investing in Parent Education
Some Texas school districts are investing in parent education programs, in the hope that they lead to improved student behavior, academic performance, and attitudes. The programs include classes, counseling, and social services.
05/05/08
Dept. of Ed to Hold Hearings on New Title I Regulations
The U.S. Department of Education has scheduled a series of public meetings around the U.S. to discuss proposed changes to regulations for Title I under the No Child Left Behind Act.
05/02/08
Report: U.S. Kids' Well-Being Improves
While childhood obesity remains a major problem, the overall well-being of U.S. children between the ages of 6 to 11 is improving, according to a report from the Foundation for Child Development.
05/01/08
Schools Make AYP After Reclassifying Students
Over the past two years, 80 California schools were able to make adequate yearly progress (AYP) under the No Child Left Behind Act after changing the racial classification of some of their students.
04/30/08
Kids Who Pass Tests May Get More Days Off
The Grand Prairie (Texas) Independent School District is seeking state permission to give students who pass the state tests eight days off from school. Teachers would use those days to tutor students who did not pass.
04/29/08
Classical Music Inspires Students
Many pupils from Prince George's County, Maryland, got their first taste of classical music when the district opted to send all 8,000 fourth graders to a concert by the National Symphony Orchestra.
04/28/08
Public Schools Seeking Private Money
Proposed budget cuts in California are prompting schools to seek donations from parents and and community to make up the shortfall. Potential layoff notices have been issued to 20,000 public school employees.
04/25/08
Teacher Suspended for Refusing to Give Test
Carl Chew, a science teacher at Nathan Eckstein Middle School in Seattle, has been suspended for two weeks without pay for refusing to administer the Washington Assessment of Student Learning in his classroom.
04/24/08
Warning: Kids Need Heart Exam Before ADHD Drugs
Children should be screened for heart problems with an electrocardiogram before starting medication such as Ritalin to treat hyperactivity and attention-deficit disorder, said the American Heart Association.
04/23/08
Bullies Taunt Allergic Kids With Peanuts
Some schools are seeing a dangerous new trend in bullying: Kids deliberately exposing students with peanut allergies to peanut products. Peanut exposure can cause severe reactions in some children, even causing death.
04/22/08
Teacher Focuses on Copier Over-Usage to Mark Earth Day
Kenny Luna, a science teacher in North Babylon, New York, is urging schools to reduce the number of photo copies staff members make to help save trees and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
04/21/08
School Nurse Forms Anti-Smoking Group
School nurse and former smoker Donna Pasko created a SWAT team -- Students Working Against Tobacco -- to educate teens at Palmetto High in Florida about the dangers of smoking.
04/18/08
Funding for School Media Centers Lagging
Despite research showing that school libraries help boost student achievement, media centers still don’t receive sufficient funding, reports a study by the American Library Association. 04/17/08
Study: Co-Ed Classes Optimize Learning
A Tel Aviv University study found that boys and girls perform better academically in co-ed classrooms. The study showed that the pressence of girls improved boys’ grades markedly. 04/16/08
Schools Reach Out to Hispanic Parents
Some schools in Texas are offering English and citizenship courses for Hispanic parents so they can become more comfortable speaking English and more involved in their children's education.
04/15/08
Teachers Ordered to Turn Over E-Mails Written at School
A circuit court judge ruled that five Wisconsin Rapids School District teachers must turn over the contents of e-mails written while at school. A resident claims the teachers were writing personal e-mail on school time.
04/14/08
Legos Help Kids With Autism Build Social Skills
Working together on Lego projects helps to build the social skills of pre-adolescent boys with autism, experts have found. Children are forced to interact to meet a common goal while working on a project.
04/11/08
Secretary of Ed Cites Writing Gains
U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced that writing scores for eighth and 12th graders on the 2007 NAEP tests showed gains from 2002 and 1998. More than 165,000 students took the test.
04/10/08
Cricket Comes to U.S. Schools
The New York City schools have become the first school system in the U.S. to launch a cricket league. About 600 students from 14 schools are participating; each team is playing 12 matches.
04/09/08
Judge: Firm Can Store Students' Essays
A U.S. federal district court judge in Virginia ruled that the plagiarism detection company Turnitin does not violate students' copyrights when it stores copies of their essays to check future submissions for plagiarism.
04/08/08
Dept. of Ed. Proposing Uniform Graduation-Rate Formula
U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings plans to propose that states use a uniform graduation-rate formula and publish data on the graduation rates of students from different racial and socioeconomic groups.
04/07/08
Study: Bullies Have Tough Relationships With Parents, Friends
Researchers at York University and Queen's University in Canada found that bullies often have troubled relationships with parents and friends, and without intervention, may continue being disruptive into their teens.
04/04/08
Report: Fewer than Half Graduate from Many Urban Schools
Seventeen of the 50 largest U.S. cities had high-school graduation rates lower than 50 percent, with the lowest graduation rates posted in Detroit, Indianapolis, and Cleveland, a report noted.
04/03/08
School Weaning Students off Gossip
School officials at the private Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls are "weaning" girls off gossiping, starting with a daily school-wide, gossip-free hour. The school encourages a gossip-free atmosphere. 04/02/08
Free Tutoring Not Far-Reaching, Effective Enough
Federally mandated public after-school tutoring isn't always reaching the children it's intended to help, researchers note -- and when it does, the tutoring isn't always help as effective as it could be.
04/01/08
City to Attack School Failure at Multiple Levels
Washington, D.C., plans to pilot a program that includes in-home substance-abuse counseling, solutions for public-aid problems, and other programs for students' troubled families in an effort to raise achievement.
03/31/08
Principal Turns to Students to Close Achievement Gap
Frustrated by the lack of progress in closing the achievement gap at T.R. Smedberg Middle School in south Sacramento, California, the principal began meeting with students to get their input.
03/28/08
Study: Students Drinking by Sixth Grade
A study of more than 4,000 sixth-graders in Chicago schools that showed that 17 percent already had tried alcohol, suggests that education programs need to start at the elementary level, researchers said.
03/27/08
School Stressing Importance of Sleep
To stress the importance of adequate sleep for learning, officials at Memminger Elementary School in Charleston, South Carolina, are asking parents to sign contracts agreeing to put their children to bed earlier.
03/26/08
Dropout Figures Worse Than NCLB Data Shows
Because many states report lower dropout figures to the federal government than they do to state education officials, the magnitude of the high school dropout problem is being hidden, some say.
03/25/08
Officials Unveil Statewide Chess Program
Idaho is the first state in the U.S. to approve a chess curriculum for all second and third graders. The state will fund chess instruction for the voluntary program.
03/24/08
Teacher Absences Could Affect Test Scores
The more days teachers are absent before high-stakes tests, the more likely it is that students will not perform well on the tests, according to a study by Harvard researchers.
03/21/08
Do State Test Scores Belong on Transcripts?
Minnesota state education officials are pushing to add state test scores to high school transcripts that students submit to colleges and universities, in order to get students to take the tests more seriously.
03/20/08
Training Principals to Be Instructional Leaders
Officials in the Norwalk-La Mirada school district have hired consultants to transform their 29 principals into instructional leaders rather than building managers.
03/19/08
Looming Science Test Has Schools Scrambling
The fall launch of science testing under NCLB should lead to a renewed focus on science instruction, said educators and science advocates, at a time when the U.S. is facing a "crisis" in science education. 03/18/08
College Offers Online AP, Honors Courses
The University of California, Irvine Extension, is offering advanced placement (AP) and honors courses online to high-school students nationwide. Courses have been approved by the College Board.
03/17/08
More High Schools Adding Classes Scripted by Corporations
Some major U.S. accounting and engineering firms, partly because of fears about labor shortages, are creating free curriculum for high schools to introduce students to careers in engineering and finance.
03/14/08
Charter School to Pay Teachers $125,000
The director of a New York City charter school plans to pay teachers $125,000 annually -- more than his own salary -- based on the idea that top teachers are the key to high achievement.
03/13/08
Ruling Could End Homeschooling
Parents who lack teaching credentials cannot educate their children at home, according to a California appellate court ruling that is sending shock waves through the state's home-schooling families.
03/12/08
Students Record Black Residents' Memories
Students in an education class at Henry E. Lackey High School in Indian Head, Maryland, interviewed some of the area's oldest African-American residents and are preserving the stories on a DVD.
03/11/08
Underachievers May Have Poor Working Memory
Not all underachieving students are slow; some may have poor working memories, according to a study by researchers in the United Kingdom. Working memory is the ability to retain information and manipulate it mentally.
03/10/08
Teachers Complain About 'Hovering' Parents
For the past two years, 60 percent of Howard County (Maryland) teachers said in a job satisfaction survey that they have been subjected to harassment -- and parents were the offenders 60 percent of the time.
03/07/08
Schools Try New Ways to Curb Cheating
With cheating and plagiarism rampant in many U.S. high schools, some administrators are trying new strategies to curb cheating, such as allowing accused students to be judged by a panel of their peers.
03/06/08
Parents Push for School Defibrillators
Two families whose sons might have survived cardiac problems if defibrillators had been available on school fields have teamed up with a cardiologist to lobby Congress to require all schools to have defibrillators.
03/05/08
Students Do Better in 'Green' Schools
Students in schools with clean air, natural light, wastewater recycling, renewable power, and other "green" features show improved academic performance and have fewer cases of asthma, colds, and flu, a study says. 03/04/08
Good Students Earn Cell Phones, Minutes
About 2,500 students in seven New York City middle schools received cell phones for good grades and good behavior. Students now can earn additional rewards such as more minutes, ring tones, and text messaging options.
03/03/08
Bill Would Expand Crimes to Decertify Teachers
A bill in the Washington state legislature would require districts to report innapropriate behavior by teachers and expand the list of crimes for which a conviction could result in the termination of a teacher and/or the revocation of credentials.
02/29/08
Math Teachers, Students Can Be Bad Match
Miscommunication between math teachers and students may compound the struggles some students have with the subject. Teachers who are math experts sometimes assume students know more than they do.
02/28/08
Educators Fighting Back against Online Insults
Teachers and principals are retaliating against students who post insulting messages or images about them online. Students have faced criminal charges, civil lawsuits, long-term suspensions, or permanent expulsions.
02/27/08
Beef Recall Puts Schools on Alert
School districts around the U.S. are trying to determine if any of the meat involved in the biggest beef recall in the nation's history announced this week is still headed for school lunches.
02/26/08
Eating Better Could Earn Kids Cash
Children who eat more healthful food at school and exercise regularly could receive taxpayer-funded financial bonuses in their state savings accounts, a health adviser to the British government suggested.
02/25/08
School Turns to Business Management Model
Children at Mt. Lebanon (Pennsylvania's) Washington Elementary School are learning under the "continuous improvement" management model that made Toyota a powerhouse. The approach's mantra is: plan, do, study, act. 02/22/08
Computer Program Shows Living Costs
Eighth-graders at Bernardo Heights Middle School in California got a look at real-world living expenses through a computer program that provided figures for housing, utilities, and other costs based on their location and lifestyle.
02/21/08
Students Set to Learn about Young Holocaust Victims
France's president Nicolas Sarkozy set off a debate when he announced that next year every fifth grader will learn about the life of a French child who died in the Holocaust. Some argue the information is too grim for young children.
02/20/08
Sixth Graders to Learn About Contraceptives
Under a new sex education curriculum beginning in April, Palm Beach (Florida) sixth graders will learn about contraceptives. Florida has the sixth-highest rate of teen pregnancies in the U.S.
02/19/08
More Students Taking, Passing AP Exams
A higher percentage of students in public high schools are taking and passing Advanced Placement exams, a report from the College Board notes. The performance gap between black and white students, however, remains large.
02/18/08
State Passes Anti-Bullying Measure
Nebraska lawmakers have passed a bill intended to prevent bullying in schools. The measure doesn’t dictate specific actions that school districts must take, but it does require them to set antibullying policies by next summer. 02/15/08
Bullying Harms Kids' Mental Health
Being bullied can negatively affect children's mental health, according to a recent study. Bullied children are more likely to have anxiety, depression and thoughts of suicide, study authors note.
02/14/08
Rallies, Prayers Pump Up Students for Tests
Schools and communities in Florida are rallying around students who are taking the state assessment tests with pep rallies, academic boot camps, exercise programs, and prayer meetings.
02/13/08
National PTA CEO to Retire
Warlene Gary, who has served as the chief executive officer of the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) for five years, plans to retire in June. Gary has been active in the PTA for 35 years.
02/12/08
In Some Schools, 50 is the New 0
Some schools in Clark County, Nevada, are experimenting with making 50 the lowest grade a student can receive on a report card -- even if a student turned in no homework and scored 0 on every test.
02/11/08
"Green Team" Keeps School Eco-Conscious
Student members of the Green Team at Julius West Middle School in Rockville, Maryland, promote energy conservation and recycling among the school's students and faculty.
02/08/08
Many Sex Ed Teachers Don't Cover the Basics
A study of sex education teachers in Illinois showed that one-third did not give comprehensive instruction -- defined as covering abstinence, birth control, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
02/07/08
Government to Fund Auschwitz Visits
To impress on young people the horrors of the Holocaust, the English government will pay for two students from every secondary school to visit the Auschwitz death camp in Poland.
02/06/08
Board Approves Afro-Centric School
The Toronto District School Board narrowly approved a proposal for an Afro-centric school that opponents charged was tantamount to segregation. The school is slated to open in September 2009.
02/05/08
Kids With ADHD May Be More Likely to Bully
Children with ADHD are almost four times as likely as others to be bullies, a study shows. Also, children with ADHD symptoms were almost ten times as likely to have been bullied prior to the onset of ADHD symptoms.
02/04/08
Rocker Composing Curricula
Steven Van Zandt, lead guitarist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, is writing Little Steven's Rock and Roll High School, a music education program that traces the history of rock 'n' roll in the U.S.
02/01/08
Computer-Savvy Kids Still Lack Research Skills
Today's children may have grown up using the Internet, but that doesn't mean they are better researchers, a British study says. Easy access to data has not improved kids' ability to assess information.
01/31/08
School Holds "No Place for Hate" Week
Memorial Middle School in Houston, Texas, recently held a No Place for Hate Week, featuring activities and discussions designed to reduce bullying and teasing and help students appreciate differences.
01/30/08
Bounce Back School Gives Dropouts Last Chance
The Bounce Back School in Chula Vista, California, is a last chance for high-school dropouts to earn a diploma. Students attend classes for three hours a day, and teachers track them down if they are missing.
01/29/08
Mandatory Cooking Classes Proposed
A new mandate requires all students between the ages of 11 and 14 in English public schools to take a cooking class, as part of an effort to teach students about nutrition and reduce obesity.
01/28/08
Intensive Remediation Program Shows Results
A promotion with intensive remediation program has allowed some Louisiana youngsters who struggled in eighth grade to move from middle school to high school and handle the demands of high school work.
01/25/08
School District Gives Teachers Money for Houses
The Palm Beach County (Florida) School District is offering $10,000 housing subsidies to 50 teachers who purchase homes in a specific development, which gives qualified buyers more than $43,000 for homes.
01/24/08
H.S. Offers Homeland Security Courses
Joppatowne High School in Joppa, Maryland, is the first high school in the U.S. to offer a homeland security program. Students take courses to learn about protecting the country against terrorism.
01/23/08
School Board Weighs Maternity Leave for Students
Two pediatricians, a counselor, and a pregnant teen asked the Denver School Board to consider granting four-to-six weeks of maternity leave for students who have babies, so the teens can recover and bond with their children.
01/22/08
Teens Brainstorm Ways to Keep Peers in School
At Mississippi's first Teen Graduation Summit, high school students from across the state talked about reasons why their peers drop out of school and what could be done to keep them in school. 01/21/08
'Dashboards' Give School Snapshots
The U.S. Department of Education has unveiled an online tool called Dashboards to show the public how schools fare in reading and math achievement, graduation rates, and participation in Advanced Placement exams.
01/18/07
Teacher Stress Impacts Pre-K Expulsions
The level of stress experienced by a preschool teacher directly impacts the number of children who are expelled, a Yale University study says. Preschoolers are three times more likely to be expelled than K-12 students.
01/17/07
Student Artwork on Display in DC
Artwork by 30 students created in 2006-2007 for the national PTA’s arts program, Reflections, has been selected for display at the U.S. Department of Education. The theme for last year's program was "My Favorite Place."
01/16/08
Education Funding System Gets Overhaul
The New Jersey state legislature approved a bill overhauling how the state allocates funding for public schools. Gov. Jon Corzine said the changes will more fairly distribute more than $8 billion in annual education aid.
01/15/08
School Principals Get More Authority
The Hartford (Connecticut) school district is on the verge of making a dramatic shift in the way school budgets are prepared to give principals control over hiring, the length of their school days and years, and more.
01/14/08
Teacher's Songs Inspire Students
Virginia music teacher Linda White helps her students learn about history, science, and other subjects through the musicals she writes for students to perform.
01/11/08
Bush Gives NCLB Ultimatum
President Bush has warned that if Congress doesn't reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act soon, he'll make as many changes as he can on his own. Bush added if Congress acts and weakens the law, he will veto it.
01/10/08
Court Ruling Revives NCLB Challenges
A federal appeals court decision has revived a lawsuit filed by three states and the National Education Association challenging the funding of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
01/09/08
More Schools Drafting Breathalyzer Policies
More schools are creating policies on the use of breathalyzers, now that the cost of the devices has fallen and schools are seeking better ways to keep intoxicated students from attending school functions.
01/08/08
Parents of Disabled Students Seek Separate Classes
As mainstreaming students with disabilities becomes common, more parents of disabled students are opposing the practice, saying their children don't get the specialized attention they need in regular classes.
01/07/08
Tutors Help Boys Get Organized for Success
A growing number of families are hiring tutors to assist their sons with organizational, time management, and study skills to help them succeed in school and prepare college applications.
01/04/08
Foundation Creates Fellowship for Teachers
The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation plans to award hundreds of future teachers $30,000 starting in 2009 to attend graduate school. The fellows agree to teach for three years at high-needs schools.
01/03/08
Fifth of U.S. Dropouts May Be Gifted
As many as 20 percent of the high-school dropouts in the U.S. could be considered gifted, studies show, an indication that these students are bored and frustrated with school. 01/02/08
